New Delhi, Sep 12 (NationPress) Almost a year after placing fourth in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mirabai Chanu celebrated a remarkable comeback by clinching the gold medal in the women’s 48kg division at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

Reflecting on her return to competition and the 48kg category, Mirabai, who previously earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, commented that securing the gold medal in this event was a significant milestone in her career.

“I am extremely delighted. It has been quite a while since I last earned a medal at the Championships. This was also my debut competition after transitioning to the 48kg category,” she said.

“It was memorable as this marks the first time I have secured a medal for India in this category during the competition. I am thrilled,” she shared in an interview with IANS on Friday, during the PlayCom 2025 summit.

In this championship, Mirabai lifted 84kg in the snatch and 109kg in the clean and jerk, finishing first with a total lift of 193kg. The choice to reduce her weight to fit into the new category proved advantageous, as she has now qualified for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

With one event concluded, preparations for the next challenge begin. Mirabai’s upcoming goal is to earn a medal for India in the World Weightlifting Championships, set to take place in Førde, Norway from October 1-10.

“The entire Indian team is training diligently. We aim to achieve medals for everyone participating. We will see how it unfolds on the competition day, but the team is well-prepared,” Mirabai added.

Meanwhile, during a panel discussion focused on the Olympics at the summit, former captain of the Indian women's hockey team, Rani Rampal, shared insights on the team’s journey, highlighting the disappointment of missing out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics and the steps required for future growth.

“My journey has been extensive. At times, we hesitate to recall our first Olympics. However, that experience taught us invaluable lessons. Tokyo was entirely different - after losing our first three games, everyone had lost faith in us,” she recounted.

“Yet, we kept our belief alive, won the next two matches, and then triumphed over Australia in the quarterfinals. The entire nation was captivated by hockey that day, marking a true transformation.”

“The crucial aspect is consistent performance. I won’t deny that women’s hockey has seen its ups and downs. I sincerely hope the team secures victory in the Asia Cup and qualifies for the World Cup,” she expressed.

“The transition period is always daunting. We often focus solely on medals, neglecting the importance of progress. The pressing question is - how do we support athletes during this transition? Hence, we need to emphasize grassroots development more,” she concluded.