Mirabai Chanu To Lead India At World Weightlifting Championship 2023

Mirabai Chanu, an Indian Weightlifter who won at the Commonwealth Games the last year, will spearhead India in Weightlifting Championship in Riyadh, starting from September 4, 2023.

The 28-year-old has been awarded various awards for her exemplary records. Chanu started her journey in childhood, but her breakthrough was when she won the silver medal at the Glasgow edition of the Commonwealth Games in the 48 kg weight category. 

From the 2016 Olympics to 2021, she secured many positions. In 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics, Chanu became the first Indian weightlifter to win the silver at the Olympics. She lifted 220 kg in the 49 kg weight category.

Chanu and others are all set to make India proud at Weightlifting Championship in Riyadh. Apart from Chanu (49kg), Commonwealth Games medallists Bindyarani Devi (55kg), Shubham Todkar (61kg), Ajith (73kg), and Achinta Sheuli (73kg) will also be part of the championship. The same group of weightlifters will also be competing at the Asian Games.

World Weightlifting Championship 2023

Saudi Arabia is hosting the World Weightlifting Championship 2023. The grand event will begin on September 2, 2023, and end on September 17, 2023. It would also serve as the qualification event for the Paris 2024 Olympics. 1500 athletes are expected to participate in the contest hosted by International Weightlifting Federation from about 130 countries.

Female athletes compete in the following categories: 45 kg, 49 kg (qualifying), 55 kg, 59 kg (qualifying), 64 kg, 71 kg (qualifying), 76 kg (qualifying), 81 kg (qualifying), over 81 kg (qualifying), 87 kg, and over 87 kg (qualifying). Currently, Chanu and Devi are in St. Louis, Missouri, for a 65-day programme with Dr. Aron Horschig, a former weightlifter turned physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach. Mirabai is aiming for a medal at the Asian Games.

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