Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu made a powerful return to the global stage, clinching the silver medal in the women’s 48kg category at the World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway.

This marks Chanu's third career medal at the event, breaking a medal drought for India at the championships since 2022. She lifted an impressive 199 kg total, achieving 84 kg in the snatch and 115 kg in the clean and jerk.

Bouncing Back on the Platform

The competition didn't start smoothly for Chanu. She managed only a successful first snatch lift of 84 kg, missing her subsequent attempts and briefly sitting in third place.

However, the champion staged a trademark comeback in the clean and jerk section. She successfully completed all three of her attempts, capping it off with a final lift of 115 kg. This outstanding effort not only secured the silver medal in the clean and jerk segment but also cemented her second-place finish overall, matching her personal best from the Tokyo Olympics.

This performance is particularly encouraging as it's Chanu's first World Championships appearance since 2022 and her second major international event since she finished fourth at the Paris Olympics. Her consistency reinforces her standing as one of India's most successful weightlifters, contributing to the country’s total of 18 World Championship medals—all earned by women.

A Record-Breaking Show

The event was ultimately dominated by Ri Song Gum of North Korea, who put on a spectacular, world record-breaking show. Ri finished with a monumental 213 kg total, setting new world records in both the clean and jerk (122 kg) and the overall total. Thailand’s Thanyathon Sukcharoen took home the bronze with a 198 kg total.

Chanu’s 199 kg total shows she is quickly approaching her peak form, following her coach's expressed goal of breaching the 200 kg mark. Her recent gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships last month already secured her direct qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.