Indian weightlifters have secured four gold medals at the Commonwealth Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships and the Universal Cup (Senior) in Apia, Samoa.
Indian weightlifters have achieved significant success at the Commonwealth Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships and the Universal Cup in Apia, Samoa, winning four gold medals.
Indian weightlifters are set to compete in the Asian Championships, aiming to leverage home advantage and gain momentum for the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Indian weightlifting once again revolved around the enduring brilliance of Mirabai Chanu, whose World Championships silver was the single biggest achievement for the sport in a year marked by doping concerns and senior-level stagnation.
The 2026 Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships, featuring athletes from 30 countries, will be held in Gandhinagar from May 11 to 17. The event serves as a qualifier for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is investing nearly Rs 1.95 crore in international exposure and national coaching camps for weightlifters preparing for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Junior Commonwealth gold medallist Sairaj Pardeshi faces a provisional doping ban after testing positive, while alleging a conspiracy to sabotage his career.
At 29, Chanu faced an uphill battle against an injury-ravaged body, sub-optimal preparation, and an intensely competitive field.
Indian weightlifters continued their impressive performance at the Commonwealth Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships and Universal Cup, securing a gold and three silver medals in Apia, Samoa.
Mirabai Chanu will miss the Asian Championships due to a shoulder injury sustained during the National Championships. Komal Kohar is expected to replace her in the Indian team.
Commonwealth Championships gold medalist Sairaj Pardeshi has been provisionally suspended by NADA after testing positive for a banned substance. The weightlifter alleges a conspiracy to sabotage his career.
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is determined to win a medal at the Asian Games, the only major title missing from her collection. She also spoke about the importance of the Khelo India Tribal Games.
Claiming to be saddled with faulty equipment from China, the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) on Monday called for a boycott of sports apparatus made in that country after the violent face-off in eastern Ladakh killed 20 Army personnel last week. The IWLF ordered four weightlifting sets, comprising barbells and weight plates, from Chinese company ZKC last year. The body said that the equipment turned out to be faulty and the weightlifters are no longer using them.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation was told that its weightlifters can participate in international events provided it pays up a fine of US $50,000.
'Four adverse analytical findings were reported on the occasion of doping controls carried out on the Indian national team members,' the IWF said.
Three more Indian weightlifters have tested positive for doping, taking the latest positive tests to five, and the national body is now facing another suspension. Male lifters Harbhajan Singh and Rajesh Kumar and female Bijaya Devi were caught in World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) tests at a training camp for the Commonwealth championships.
National Games gold medallist Jasmine Kaur has been banned for two years after testing positive for a prohibited substance. The NADA's Anti-Doping Disciplinary panel (ADDP) found her guilty of using Terbutaline.
India have finished as the best-performing nation in the sport in the 1990, 2002, and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's revelations came just a few days after India has been placed at the third spot in worldwide dope violation in 2014 in a report published by World Anti-Doping Agency.
Chanu has consistently improved in the section to stay in contention for medals at top events.
The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games are set to begin in Chhattisgarh, featuring around 3,800 athletes competing in nine sports. The event aims to boost the state's sports infrastructure and provide exposure to national-level competition.
Mohin Chavan and Manalisha Sonowal grabbed a gold medal each in the 17th Asian Youth (Boys & Girls) and 22nd Junior Women Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday.
India's R Vaishali wins the FIDE Women's Candidates 2026 in Cyprus, earning the right to challenge world champion Ju Wenjun and drawing praise for her historic achievement.
India's top women weightlifters are likely to undergo a two-month training for the Athens Olympics in Belarus to enhance the country's medal prospects in the mega event.
India is considering including indigenous sports like Kabaddi and Mallakhamb in the 2030 Commonwealth Games, alongside confirmed sports like hockey and cricket.
Satheesha Rai, stripped of two gold medals and a bronze at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games for using a stimulant, has tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol.
Apart from Mirabai, the four other Indian lifters were placed in groups C and D, failing to finish even in the top 20 at the Worlds, earlier this month.
Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare expressed satisfaction with India's preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, following a multi-city review of venues and infrastructure.
Indian weightlifters Sivalingam Sathish Kumar and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu earned the right to compete at the Rio Olympics in men's and women's weight categories respectively after topping the selection trials. Selection trials were held in Patiala to choose one lifter each from men's and women's category across all weight divisions after India had earned two quota places for the Rio Games at Senior Asian Championships at Tashkent, Uzbekistan in April. Sathish earned the ticket for Rio after finishing on top among male lifters with a total of 336kg in 77kg weight division. He lifted 151kg in snatch and 185kg in clean & jerk.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced that the Khelo India Tribal Games will be held annually in the state following the success of the inaugural edition. The event aims to provide a platform for tribal athletes to showcase their talent and gain national recognition.
The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) commenced in Chhattisgarh, providing a national stage for tribal athletes to showcase their abilities. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the event's significance in promoting sports culture and identifying talent from remote areas.
India's ace weightlifter Mirabai Chanu stated that she has been competing in the 48-49kg category and will need to move to the 53kg category for the 2028 Olympics due to a change in weight classes. She expressed confidence in her ability to participate in the 2028 event.
India is preparing its athletes for the unique accommodation arrangements at the upcoming Asian Games, which will feature repurposed shipping containers as housing units.
India is preparing its athletes for the upcoming Asian Games by installing makeshift container housing units at SAI centres to familiarise them with the unique accommodation arrangements in Japan.
Teenager Deepak Lather, on Friday, became the youngest Indian weightlifter to claim a Commonwealth Games medal, clinching a bronze in the men's 69kg category.
Lots to look forward to in Indian sports as packed 2026 calender awaits
The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games will be held in Chhattisgarh, featuring seven medal sports and aiming to empower tribal athletes and promote grassroots inclusion.
The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games will be held in Chhattisgarh, featuring seven medal sports and aiming to empower tribal athletes and promote grassroots inclusion.
Mirabai Chanu's weight class axed from 2028 Olympics, to bulk up to 53kg for LA Games
This Olympic cycle has been marred by injuries for Chanu, who turned 30 just a day after the competition in Paris.
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