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Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Mirabai Chanu's comeback trail: Change in snatch technique, challenge of ageing body, new weight category
It's been nearly a year since Mirabai Chanu stood on a weightlifting platform to compete after finishing fourth at last year's Paris Olympics in the 49kg category. The 2021 Tokyo Olympic medallist's previous Olympics cycle was affected by a recurring injury. She had also finished fourth at the 2022 Asian Games. However, after completing her rehabilitation and working on her technique in snatch, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist is ready for another shot at the elusive Asian Games medal. A podium finish at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is also a dream. 'I tried my best in Paris but due to inconsistent training and recurring injury, a medal was lost,' Mirabai Chanu told The Indian Express on the sidelines of the ASMITA Weightlifting league. Chanu lifted a total of 199 kg at the Paris Olympics finishing fourth and missing out on a bronze medal by one kilogram. While she did well in the snatch with 88kg, her attempt at 114 kg in clean and jerk failed. 'I will say my training is at 80 percent right now. I recently participated in the trials for the Commonwealth Weightlifting championships and my body is feeling great,' she added further. Chanu is known for her power in the clean and jerk section of weightlifting. She held the world record of 119kg till 2024. However, she has struggled in the snatch section. 'My snatch has improved. I did 88kg in Paris and my target remains to do 90 in the section,' she said. 'Snatch is all about technique. How to lift the bell from the bottom and then progress and how to control your body in the process. I lack a little bit of technique. My weakness from the start has been the force transfer from sitting down to standing up,' she explained. But after Paris, there have been slight tweaks in her technique, according to her long-time coach Vijay Sharma. 'Now she is moving fast while going up with more hip thrust and it has shown results. At the recent trials, she did 85 which I was not expecting,' Vijay said. Also with an ageing body, athletes can't change their technique instantly. 'My body is ageing now and I can't correct my technique instantly. But I think if I use the combination of second pull and hip thrust, 90 kg is achievable in snatch,' Chanu said. The coach knows change will take time. 'It is tough to break the pattern her body has been following for years now. Right now, our focus is the technical tweaks,' Vijay added. The International Weightlifting Federation has introduced new weight categories from June 2025 and Mirabai will be competing in the women's 48 kg category now after the 49 kg category was scrapped. Talking about maintaining weight for the new category, Chanu said, 'When I was in the 49 kg category, I would keep my weight around 50.5 kg to train and now I will have to keep it within 50 kg to train.' While it might look like an adjustment of just one kilogram, it can take a toll on the body. 'It's been seven years since Chanu has been competing in the same category and now she has cut down on her natural weight of 50kg further. We had options of going either to 53 kg or come down to 48, we chose the latter one as it suits her natural weight,' Vijay added. Chanu will be competing at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad this year which acts as the qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. After the CWC, she will prepare for the World Championships in October 2025. 'Both tournaments are important for us. The Commonwealth is an important tournament as I will start my season here and then we have the Worlds where I will be competing with the Chinese and North Koreans,' Chanu said. 'Eventually, my target is to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,' she added. Coach Vijay Sharma has planned gradual progression for Chanu this year and the plan is to improve the total lift event by event. 'What I saw at the trials was visually pleasing to the eyes as a coach. She is lifting well and especially in snatch. Our plan is to add more in the total lift with each tournament. I hope this time she remains injury-free and we have uninterrupted training,' he said.
Bahrain This Week
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Bahrain This Week
IWF chief visits AYG Executive Committee Headquarter
International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) President Mr. Mohammed Jaloud Al Shammari paid an official visit to the headquarter of the Executive Committee of the 3rd Asian Youth Games, which will take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 22 to 31. The meeting was attended by Mr. Eshaq Ebrahim Eshaq, member of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and president of the Bahrain Weightlifting Federation. Mr. Al Shammari was received by chairman of the Executive Committee Mr. Yousif Duaij, along with the committee's vice-chairman, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, and several heads of standing committees. Mr. Duaij welcomed the IWF president and praised his efforts in promoting and developing weightlifting worldwide. He affirmed the committee's commitment to working closely with the IWF to ensure the successful organization of the weightlifting competition, which is among the key events on the Games' program. Discussions focused on coordinating all organizational and technical aspects of the tournament, including weight categories, the overall sports program, and regulations governing participation. The parties emphasized the importance of delivering a competition that meets the highest standards, especially as it serves as a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Dakar in 2026. Mr. Al Shammari expressed full confidence in Bahrain's ability to deliver an outstanding edition of the Asian Youth Games, citing its impressive facilities and organizational capabilities. He commended Bahrain's success in hosting the World Weightlifting Championships for the first time last year, which showcased the Kingdom's readiness to stage major international sporting events.
Daily Tribune
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Asian Youth Games: Bahrain Ready, IWF Confident
The Kingdom of Bahrain took a significant step forward in its preparations for the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG), set to take place from October 22 to 31, as International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) President Mohammed Jaloud Al Shammari visited the Games' Executive Committee headquarters. The meeting, held with key figures from Bahrain's sports administration, reinforced a shared commitment to delivering a top-tier weightlifting competition—one that could shape the road to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. A Game Within the Games Weightlifting will be one of the key disciplines at the AYG, and the focus during the discussions was clear: deliver a technically sound and globally respected event. President of the Bahrain Weightlifting Federation and Bahrain Olympic Committee board member, Eshaq Ebrahim Eshaq, joined Yousif Duaij, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Vice-Chairman Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar in welcoming Al Shammari. They reviewed the organisational structure, event regulations, and logistics—covering everything from weight categories to athlete eligibility. With the tournament doubling as a qualifier for the Youth Olympics, precision and excellence were high on the agenda. IWF's Vote of Confidence Al Shammari praised Bahrain's leadership in the sport and its infrastructure. He pointed to the success of last year's World Weightlifting Championships, which Bahrain hosted for the first time, as a key benchmark of the Kingdom's readiness. His endorsement adds further credibility to the Games, which are being closely watched as a platform for emerging youth talent across Asia. Eyes on October With the Asian Youth Games approaching, the IWF's collaboration with Bahrain's organisers is expected to elevate standards and ensure a smooth, competitive, and internationally compliant event. As a qualifier for the 2026 Youth Olympics, the weightlifting competition carries more than just regional significance. Bahrain now finds itself in a position to influence the sport's future at youth level, both continentally and globally.
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships: IWLF confirms Ahmedabad as host
India is set to welcome the continent's strongest athletes, as Ahmedabad has officially been named the host city for the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships. Scheduled to take place from April 1 to 10, the prestigious event will be organised under the aegis of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF), which confirmed the final dates this week. IWLF President Sahdev Yadav stated that the decision to shift the event from Gandhinagar to Ahmedabad was made after evaluating logistical factors. The tournament will be the first major championship in Asia to feature the new weight categories introduced by the International Weightlifting Federation, adding further significance to the event. Ahmedabad gears up for continental spotlight This will mark Ahmedabad's second high-profile international weightlifting event, with the city also hosting the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships later in August. Gujarat's capital has steadily emerged as a sporting hub, supported by increasing investment in infrastructure. The state government is reportedly ramping up development in anticipation of potential future bids, including the ambitious goal of hosting events for the 2036 Olympics. Strategic shift from Gandhinagar While Gandhinagar was originally selected to host the tournament, officials opted to relocate the venue to Ahmedabad to take advantage of its better connectivity, accommodation capacity, and growing reputation as a sports destination. This strategic move reflects India's broader vision to position Ahmedabad as a centre for international sporting excellence. A future global stage India had secured the hosting rights for the Asian Championships during the Asian Weightlifting Federation's annual congress last year. The announcement bolsters India's sports diplomacy, especially with its formal bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games also centred around Ahmedabad. Yadav stressed that the event will not only showcase top-level competition but also reinforce India's capabilities to organise world-class tournaments, setting the stage for even more significant global events in the coming years.
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aniq wary of new threats following weight class revision
KUALA LUMPUR: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan is expecting to face a new set of rivals when he begins competing in the new under-60 kilogramme weight class later this year. Aniq previously competed in the under-61kg category and did well to finish fourth at the Paris Olympics last year. The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has, however, conducted a revision of weight classes in the sport which will come into effect on June 1. Aniq's under-61kg class has been replaced with an under-60kg category while the under-55kg class has been removed completely. "I am sure there will be new contenders in this under-60kg class because it is now the smallest weight class available," said Aniq recently. "Those who previously competed in the under-55kg class will definitely move up to under-60kg. "I can roughly guess which nations will be dangerous in this new under-60kg division. China will obviously be strong and so will North Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. "We will have to wait until the World Championships in Norway (Oct 2-11) to get a clearer picture. By then we can start to crunch the numbers and get a clearer picture of what we need to finish in the top-four (in global competitions). "It is tricky because it appears like they (IWF) are making changes to the weight classes every two Olympic cycles, so we have to be ready to adjust." Aniq had previously competed in the under-55kg class and won silver (clean and jerk) at the 2021 World Championships and gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the division. He stepped up to the under-61kg class in 2023 and won bronze (clean and jerk) at the World Championships that year and two silvers (clean and jerk, overall) at the world meet last year. The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in India (Aug 24-30) will be Aniq's first competition in the under-60kg class. The meet will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
