Weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has set her sights firmly on the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (19 September – 4 October), describing the competition as the 'real test' after her hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals. Staying injury-free is her stated top priority as she chases the only major global medal that has so far eluded the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist.

The Support System Behind the Campaign

Two figures have been central to Mirabai's preparation: her longtime coach Vijay Sharma and American strength-and-conditioning specialist Dr Aaron Horschig, whose association with the lifter began in November 2020. 'We have a video call every Thursday with him and we discuss everything about training, recovery and the next steps. Everything is reviewed to the finest detail and since Dr Horschig was a weightlifter himself, he knows every muscle in the body. This constant review has kept me in shape,' Mirabai said.

Physio Rohit Chhabria rounds out the core team. Notably, even after clinching gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the trio did not pause — when the CWG organisers dismantled the weightlifting hall, Mirabai, Sharma, and Chhabria located a private gymnasium in Glasgow and paid for a training session on the spot.

A Self-Imposed Vow and Relentless Training

Mirabai returned directly to her base in Modinagar after Glasgow, bypassing her home state of Manipur. 'I did not go home and I have set myself a challenge — no going home till I win a medal at the Asian Games,' she said. The Commonwealth Games gold, she acknowledged, did not stretch her limits. 'To be honest, the competition in the Commonwealth Games was not tough for me. I did not have to put in a lot of effort at Glasgow. The real test lies ahead,' she added.

In Glasgow, Mirabai lifted a total of 190 kg — snatch 85 kg, clean and jerk 105 kg — in the women's 48 kg category, setting new Commonwealth Games records in all three disciplines. Nigeria's Ruth Asuquo Nyong claimed silver with 168 kg and Malaysia's Irene Jane Henry took bronze with 167 kg.

Injury History and the Asian Games Jinx

Injuries have twice denied Mirabai at the Asian Games. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, a hip and thigh injury derailed her snatch attempts and she finished fourth in the 49 kg category. At the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, a severe back injury ruled her out entirely. That backdrop gives her current fitness-first approach clear context.

Her personal best stands at 205 kg (89 kg snatch + 116 kg clean and jerk), set at the 2021 Asian Championships and matched more recently at the national championships in February 2026.

Competition Landscape and the Road to LA 2028

Mirabai expects the sternest challenge from Chinese, North Korean, Japanese, and Thai lifters. The reference point is sharp: at the Paris Olympics in 2024, Thailand's Surodchana Khambao edged her to the bronze position by just one kilogram, lifting a total of 200 kg. 'I want to see how far I can go in Japan. The Asian Games have been the toughest for me. You will probably see the Olympics at the Asian Games this time because the strongest lifters in our weight category are from Asia,' she said.

Looking beyond Aichi-Nagoya, Mirabai noted that the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will use a 53 kg weight class, requiring her to bulk up. She indicated that planning for the Olympic qualifiers in December will follow the Asian Games performance. Mirabai will lead a five-member Indian weightlifting contingent — four women and one man — at the Games. The weightlifting events are scheduled for 22–28 September at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium in Aichi, Nagoya.