Mirabai Chanu Sets Sights on Asian Games Gold After Historic Commonwealth Triumph

When Mirabai Chanu stepped off the podium in Glasgow, still buzzing from her third straight Commonwealth Games gold, the first thing on her mind wasn’t the celebrations – it was the Asian Games. The 31‑year‑old Olympic silver medallist says the next target is simple, yet stubbornly elusive: a medal at the continental event.

"It's close, but the competition is tough," she told ANI, smiling despite the fatigue that still clung to her muscles. "Training has already begun. I want to win a medal of the same colour for India again in the Asian Games." The words sounded almost rehearsed, but the fire in her eyes told a different story – one of determination forged over years of sacrifice.

In Glasgow, Chanu lifted a personal best 85kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean‑and‑jerk, tallying a Games‑record 190kg. That performance not only secured her third successive Commonwealth crown, it also made her the first Indian woman to stand on the podium at four straight Commonwealth Games. From a shy girl in Manipur to a national icon, she reflected, "Every medal brings back the hardships, the early mornings, the doubts. When you hear the anthem, all that fades into tears of joy."

She didn’t keep the applause to herself. Fans across the country, she said, have been her backbone. "It’s everyone's love that lifted me. Thank you, thank you so much," she added, a hint of emotion breaking through.

Much of that gratitude is directed at her coach, Dronacharya award‑winner Vijay Sharma. "I’m lucky to have a coach like Vijay sir," Chanu said, crediting him for the little nudges that keep her grounded. Sharma, ever modest, praised her consistency: "She is the only woman in the world to win medals at four consecutive Commonwealth Games. It’s all down to her discipline and hard work." He also confirmed that the entire weightlifting camp has now turned its gaze eastward – the Asian Games in Japan are the next battlefield.

The Prime Minister’s congratulatory message also found a place in her thank‑you list. "Sir motivates every player, before and after a competition. It’s a matter of pride that our PM stands with us," Chanu remarked, her voice steady yet warm.

Beyond the medals, there’s a quieter dream that still lingers: the Arjuna Award. While she already holds the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Padma Shri, Chanu confessed, "If the government gives it to me after seeing my achievements, then yes, I’ll be happy."

Back home in Delhi, she received a hero’s welcome from fans and the local Meetei community, a reminder that every lift she makes carries the weight of a nation’s hopes. As the calendar pages turn, all eyes will be on her training camp, waiting to see if she can finally turn that Asian Games medal dream into reality.