Mirabai Chanu to lead India at Glasgow CWG 2026 weightlifting
Synopsis
Mirabai Chanu returns to Glasgow — the city where she won her first Commonwealth Games medal in 2014 — now as a two-time Commonwealth gold medallist and Olympic silver medallist, gunning for a historic third straight CWG gold. India's 11-member squad, blending seasoned medallists and three debutants, arrives as the defending top nation in Commonwealth weightlifting.
Key Takeaways
Saikom Mirabai Chanu will compete in the women's 48kg category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 , targeting her third successive CWG gold.
Chanu won silver at Glasgow 2014 , gold at Birmingham 2018 , gold at Birmingham 2022 , and an Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020 .
Bindyarani Devi (58kg) and Harjinder Kaur (69kg), both silver medallists at Birmingham 2022 , are aiming to upgrade to gold.
Lovepreet Singh (+110kg), bronze medallist at Birmingham 2022, leads the men's challenge alongside three debutants.
Weightlifting events are scheduled from 26 to 30 July at the SEC Armadillo, Glasgow .
India won 9 medals (5 gold) in 2018 and 10 medals (3 gold) in 2022, topping the weightlifting medal table in both editions.
Olympic silver medallist Saikom Mirabai Chanu will headline India's weightlifting contingent at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, competing in the women's 48kg category as she bids to add a fourth Commonwealth Games medal to her collection. The Games begin on 23 July, with weightlifting events scheduled from 26 to 30 July at the SEC Armadillo, Glasgow.
Chanu's Medal Pedigree
The Manipur-born lifter is no stranger to Glasgow — she claimed a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the same city. She then went on to win gold at Birmingham 2018 and gold at Birmingham 2022, making her the clear favourite to complete a hat-trick of Commonwealth gold on her return to Scotland. Chanu also holds an Olympic silver medal from the 2020 Tokyo Games, cementing her status as India's most decorated active weightlifter.
Other Contenders in the Women's Squad
Joining Chanu are fellow Manipuri lifter Bindyarani Devi in the 58kg category and Punjab's Harjinder Kaur in the 69kg class, both of whom won silver medals at Birmingham 2022 and will be targeting gold this time around. The women's squad is rounded out by Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Sanjana (77kg), and Martina Devi (+86kg).
Men's Squad and Debutants
India's men's challenge will be spearheaded by Lovepreet Singh in the +110kg category, a bronze medallist at Birmingham 2022. Three Commonwealth Games debutants feature in the squad: Rishikanta Singh (60kg), Ajaya Babu (79kg), and Dilbag Singh (94kg). M Raja will compete in the 65kg class.
India's Dominant Commonwealth Games Record
India have historically dominated weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, with legends such as Sathisha Rai, Kunjarani Devi, Karnam Malleswari, and Sanamacha Chanu contributing to the nation's medal tally over the decades. In the two most recent editions, India finished atop the weightlifting medal table — claiming nine medals including five gold at the Gold Coast 2018 and 10 medals including three gold at Birmingham 2022.
Pre-Games Camp and Travel Plans
Before heading to Glasgow, the Indian squad is scheduled to complete a conditioning camp in Birmingham, departing on Sunday. The contingent is expected to arrive in Glasgow on 23 July, ahead of the Games' opening. With a blend of proven medallists and hungry debutants, India will look to sustain — and potentially improve upon — its recent dominance in Commonwealth weightlifting.
Point of View
Both silver medallists in Birmingham, can finally convert to gold, and whether three debutants in the men's section signal a genuine pipeline or a thin bench. India has topped the Commonwealth weightlifting table twice running, but the sport's inclusion in future Games editions remains uncertain, giving this squad an added incentive to make its mark while the platform exists.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading India's weightlifting team at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026?
Olympic silver medallist Saikom Mirabai Chanu will lead India's weightlifting squad at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, competing in the women's 48kg category. She is the favourite to win gold, having claimed the top spot at both the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
When are the weightlifting events at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games?
The weightlifting events at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games are scheduled from 26 to 30 July at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow. The Games themselves begin on 23 July, and the Indian squad is set to arrive in Glasgow on that date.
How many Commonwealth Games medals has Mirabai Chanu won?
Mirabai Chanu has won three Commonwealth Games medals — a silver at Glasgow 2014, and gold medals at Birmingham 2018 and Birmingham 2022. She is competing at Glasgow 2026 seeking a fourth medal and her third consecutive gold.
Who else is in India's weightlifting squad for Glasgow 2026?
The squad includes Bindyarani Devi (58kg), Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Sanjana (77kg), and Martina Devi (+86kg) in the women's category. The men's team features Lovepreet Singh (+110kg), M Raja (65kg), and debutants Rishikanta Singh (60kg), Ajaya Babu (79kg), and Dilbag Singh (94kg).
How has India performed in weightlifting at recent Commonwealth Games?
India has been the dominant force in Commonwealth Games weightlifting in recent editions, finishing atop the medal table in both 2018 and 2022. The team won nine medals, including five gold, at Gold Coast 2018 and followed that with 10 medals, including three gold, at Birmingham 2022.
