Mirabai Chanu breaks CWG records in Glasgow; WFI chief flags Raja, Rishikanta shortfalls
Synopsis
Mirabai Chanu broke all three Games records en route to gold at CWG 2026 in Glasgow — but WFI chief Sahdev Yadav wasn't celebrating without caveats. He revealed the federation is deliberately holding Mirabai back for a higher weight category at the Asian Games, while calling out missed lifts from Raja and Rishikanta that cost India two men's gold medals.
Key Takeaways
Mirabai Chanu won gold at Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with a total of 190 kg , breaking Games records in snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total.
It is Mirabai's fourth CWG medal — silver in 2014, gold in 2018 and 2022, and gold in 2026.
WFI President Sahdev Yadav said Mirabai is being strategically prepared for a 1kg higher weight category at the upcoming Asian Games .
Muthupandi Raja took silver in men's 65kg with 286 kg ; Yadav said he was 'not entirely satisfied,' citing Raja's prior 172 kg clean and jerk capacity.
Rishikanta Singh won silver in men's 60kg with 264 kg ; a failed lift reportedly cost him a shot at gold.
India targets one gold, one silver, and one bronze in the remaining events: men's 71kg , women's 53kg , and women's 58kg .
Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI) President Sahdev Yadav on Sunday offered a candid assessment of India's weightlifting campaign at Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow — applauding Mirabai Chanu's record-breaking gold while expressing clear dissatisfaction with the performances of Muthupandi Raja and Rishikanta Singh.
Mirabai Chanu's Record-Breaking Gold
Mirabai Chanu delivered a commanding display in the women's 49kg category, finishing with a total lift of 190 kg (85 kg snatch + 105 kg clean and jerk) and breaking the Games records in all three categories — snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total. The gold adds to her remarkable Commonwealth Games haul: a silver at Glasgow 2014 in the 48kg category, followed by gold at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022, making this her fourth CWG medal overall.
Yadav, however, was quick to contextualise the performance within a longer strategic arc. 'As for Mirabai, she delivered a solid performance without overexerting herself, as we are strategically preparing her for a 1kg higher weight category at the upcoming Asian Games,' he said. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist is evidently being managed carefully ahead of the continental showpiece.
WFI Chief's Concern Over Raja's Silver
Muthupandi Raja claimed silver in the men's 65kg event with a total of 286 kg (126 kg snatch + 160 kg clean and jerk). He opened with a successful 125 kg snatch, improved to 126 kg on his second attempt, but could not clear 129 kg on his final lift. In the clean and jerk, Raja successfully lifted 158 kg and 160 kg before failing at 170 kg.
'I am not entirely satisfied with Raja's performance. Having lifted 172 kg previously, a successful series of attempts would have allowed him to pose a real challenge to the gold medallist. At this level, a single missed lift makes a significant difference,' Yadav said. He added that given Raja's age, the federation is now pivoting its focus toward nurturing the next generation of weightlifters.
Rishikanta Singh's Near-Miss in Men's 60kg
Rishikanta Singh, the 28-year-old lifter from Manipur, opened India's weightlifting campaign with a silver in the men's 60kg event, finishing with a combined lift of 264 kg (121 kg + 143 kg) — second-best in an 11-lifter field.
Yadav pointed to a decisive moment that altered the medal colour. 'Rishikanta performed okay. However, there was a slight shortfall in his performance — the lift that should have been approved/passed failed, which impacted the colour of the medal. In the men's section, we missed out on both gold medals,' he noted. The remark underscores the fine margins that separate gold from silver at elite level.
India's Remaining Weightlifting Schedule
India's weightlifting programme at Glasgow 2026 continues with events in the men's 71kg, women's 53kg, and women's 58kg categories. Yadav struck a cautiously optimistic note, saying he hopes India will secure one gold, one silver, and one bronze across these remaining events.
Point of View
But it also means India may be leaving CWG gold on the table by design. The sharper concern is the men's section: two silvers where two golds were plausible, with missed lifts as the deciding factor. At elite international level, technical consistency under pressure is a coaching and preparation problem as much as an athlete one — and Yadav's own admission that Raja had previously lifted 172 kg clean and jerk makes the Glasgow failure harder to explain away.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Mirabai Chanu perform at Commonwealth Games 2026?
Mirabai Chanu won gold in the women's 49kg category at CWG 2026 in Glasgow, lifting a total of 190 kg (85 kg snatch + 105 kg clean and jerk) and breaking Games records in all three categories. It is her fourth Commonwealth Games medal across four editions.
Why is WFI preparing Mirabai for a higher weight category?
WFI President Sahdev Yadav said the federation is strategically building Mirabai toward a 1kg higher weight category for the upcoming Asian Games. The plan involves managing her effort at the Commonwealth Games to avoid overexertion ahead of the continental competition.
Why was WFI chief Sahdev Yadav unhappy with Muthupandi Raja?
Yadav said he was 'not entirely satisfied' with Raja's silver in the men's 65kg event, noting that Raja had previously lifted 172 kg in clean and jerk but managed only 160 kg in Glasgow. He argued a complete series of lifts would have put Raja in contention for gold.
What happened in the men's 60kg event at CWG 2026?
Rishikanta Singh of Manipur won silver with a combined lift of 264 kg (121 kg + 143 kg) in an 11-lifter field. Yadav indicated that a lift which should have been approved was ruled out, directly affecting whether Singh could have claimed gold.
What events does India still have in weightlifting at Glasgow 2026?
India is yet to compete in the men's 71kg, women's 53kg, and women's 58kg categories. WFI President Sahdev Yadav has expressed hope that India will win one gold, one silver, and one bronze across these three remaining events.
