Rijiju Hails Mirabai Chanu's CWG 2026 Gold in 48 kg Weightlifting
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated Mirabai Chanu on winning gold in the Women's 48 kg Weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, calling her triumph a celebration of perseverance and the spirit of Nari Shakti. India's medal tally at Glasgow 2026 continues to grow.
Key Takeaways
Mirabai Chanu won the gold medal in the Women's 48 kg Weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow .
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated Chanu on 26 July 2026 , calling her 'a champion, a trailblazer, a symbol of India's strength.' Chanu previously won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics .
Her athletic career has received support under the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 .
Rijiju framed the achievement within the Nari Shakti narrative, a recurring government theme around women's empowerment.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday, 26 July 2026, congratulated weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on winning the gold medal in the Women's 48 kg Weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, calling her 'a champion, a trailblazer, a symbol of India's strength.'
Context
Rijiju took to X (formerly Twitter) to extend his congratulations, writing that Chanu's triumph is 'more than a medal — it is a celebration of perseverance, excellence and the indomitable spirit of Nari Shakti [women's power].' He added that 'the nation salutes you and celebrates your extraordinary achievement,' using the hashtags #Cheer4Bharat and #CWG2026.
The post was accompanied by four images marking the occasion. Rijiju, a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh, is among several Union Ministers who have publicly celebrated India's medal haul at Glasgow 2026.
Policy Backdrop
Mirabai Chanu has been one of India's most decorated weightlifters in recent years. She had previously won gold in the Women's 48 kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and followed that with a historic silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 49 kg category — India's first Olympic weightlifting medal in over two decades.
Her career has been supported in part by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, which provides elite Indian athletes with targeted financial, technical, and logistical support ahead of major international competitions. Successive governments have expanded funding under this scheme, particularly for disciplines such as weightlifting, wrestling, and boxing.
Stakeholders and Impact
Chanu's gold at Glasgow 2026 adds to India's medal tally at the quadrennial multi-sport event and reinforces the country's standing in Commonwealth weightlifting. Her success is widely framed by officials and policymakers within the narrative of Nari Shakti — a recurring motif in government communications around women's achievement in sport and public life.
For Indian women athletes more broadly, high-profile ministerial acknowledgements of this kind serve to sustain public and institutional attention on women's sport, which advocates argue is critical for continued funding and grassroots participation.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to further medal prospects for the Indian contingent at Glasgow 2026 across disciplines including athletics, shooting, and wrestling. Back home, the monsoon session of Parliament is expected to see discussions on sports policy and athlete welfare, with results from the Commonwealth Games likely to inform the broader conversation around India's Olympic preparation cycle.
Point of View
During what is likely an active monsoon session of Parliament, also allows the ruling party to point to sports policy outcomes as evidence of governance delivery. The broader subtext is a push to sustain public and institutional momentum for India's Olympic preparation cycle beyond Glasgow 2026.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Mirabai Chanu win gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Yes, Mirabai Chanu won the gold medal in the Women's 48 kg Weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow , as confirmed by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's official post on 26 July 2026 .
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Mirabai Chanu's CWG 2026 gold?
Kiren Rijiju called Chanu 'a champion, a trailblazer, a symbol of India's strength,' and said her triumph is 'more than a medal — it is a celebration of perseverance, excellence and the indomitable spirit of Nari Shakti.'
What is Mirabai Chanu's medal history at the Commonwealth Games?
Mirabai Chanu won gold in the Women's 48 kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and has now added another gold at Glasgow 2026 . She also won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics .
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme and how does it help athletes like Mirabai Chanu?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 , provides elite Indian athletes with targeted financial, technical, and logistical support ahead of major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.
Where are the 2026 Commonwealth Games being held?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are being held in Glasgow, Scotland .
