Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu scripted history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow by claiming her third consecutive gold medal in the women's 48kg category, becoming one of India's most decorated Commonwealth Games athletes. The Manipuri champion also shattered both the Games and Commonwealth snatch records with an 85kg lift, cementing her legacy on the global stage.

Record-Breaking Performance in Glasgow

Mirabai's path to gold was not without adversity. She failed her opening snatch attempt at 82kg, but recovered to clear the weight on her second try before surging to 85kg — a new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth record in the snatch. She then sealed the title with a composed 105kg clean and jerk, wrapping up victory well before the final lifts were complete.

The win adds to gold medals at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022, making her the first Indian athlete to complete a hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals in weightlifting. She was also India's first gold medallist at the Glasgow Games.

What Mirabai Said on Government Support

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's congratulatory message on social media — in which he described her performance as 'another glorious chapter in Indian Weightlifting' — Mirabai credited the expanding ecosystem of athlete support for India's growing medal haul.

'Now a lot of changes have taken place across India. The government is providing great support to promote sports, which is a big thing for players. If they continue supporting every sport like this, providing proper training centers in different locations, enabling us to train abroad when preparing for big games or championships, these facilities are extremely beneficial for us,' she said.

She added: 'If they keep supporting every player and every sport like this, whether they are young, medal winners, or those who haven't won a medal yet, the young generation will surely produce many great athletes and win more medals. If this support continues, I feel we will bring home even more medals than we have now.'

Eyes on the Asian Games

With the Commonwealth gold secured, the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist has already shifted focus to her next target. 'Asian Games will be very crucial for me, and I am ready to win my first gold there. I am continuing my preparation and not doing anything extra to maintain the rhythm,' she said.

Notably, an Asian Games gold remains the one major title missing from Mirabai's otherwise formidable collection, making the upcoming edition a landmark moment in her career.

India's Sporting Transformation

Mirabai's Glasgow triumph arrives at a moment of broader momentum for Indian sport. Government-backed initiatives including overseas training grants, dedicated high-performance centres, and sport-specific funding have drawn consistent praise from athletes across disciplines. This is the third consecutive Commonwealth Games cycle in which Mirabai has delivered gold — a consistency that few athletes anywhere in the world have matched at this level.

As preparations for the Asian Games intensify, all eyes will be on whether Mirabai can complete the full set of continental and global honours.