Glasgow 2026 Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu Leads India’s Golden Generation as Medal-Rich Campaign Beckons

Weightlifting has long been one of India's most successful sports at the Commonwealth Games, consistently delivering medals and unforgettable moments. From Karnam Malleswari and Kunjarani Devi to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, the platform has produced champions who have inspired generations of Indian athletes.

As the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games approach, India once again heads into the competition with one of its strongest weightlifting squads in recent years. Spread across the men's and women's divisions, the contingent features established international stars, reigning national champions and exciting young lifters capable of challenging for the podium.

Based on current form, India could realistically target double-digit medals, with several athletes entering the Games as favourites or strong podium contenders.

The competition, to be held at the SEC Armadillo, begins on July 26 and concludes on July 30, with Indian interest on every day of the programme.

India's campaign could hardly begin on a stronger note.

The first Indian in action will be Rishikant Singh in the men's 60kg category. Ranked first among Commonwealth competitors based on recent performances, Rishikant enters Glasgow as the favourite to win gold. His consistency in both the snatch and clean & jerk has made him one of India's most dependable lifters, and anything other than a podium finish would come as a surprise.

Later the same day, all eyes will turn to Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu in the women's 48kg category.

Few athletes embody Indian weightlifting quite like Mirabai. A former Olympic medallist, world champion and multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist, she remains India's biggest name in the sport. Entering Glasgow with the best lifts among Commonwealth competitors, Mirabai is widely expected to defend her dominance and add another gold medal to her remarkable collection.

The opening day concludes with Muthupandi Raja in the men's 65kg category. Ranked second entering the Games, Raja appears well-placed to challenge for silver and could even threaten for gold if the competition's favourite fails to perform at their best.

The second day presents another excellent opportunity for India to add to its medal tally. Ajaya Babu Valluri will compete in the men's 79kg category, where he enters as one of the favourites.

Interestingly, Ajaya has shown a noticeable difference between his performances in domestic and international competitions, often lifting 15–20 kilograms less outside India. If he can reproduce his national-level numbers on the Commonwealth stage, gold is firmly within reach. Even with a slightly lower total, he remains a strong silver medal contender.

India's women will also take centre stage through Gyaneshwari Yadav and Bindyarani Devi.

Gyaneshwari competes in the 53kg category and enters Glasgow ranked second. While silver appears the most realistic expectation, a personal best performance could put her in contention for gold.

Bindyarani, one of India's most consistent lifters in recent seasons, also arrives as the second-ranked athlete in the 58kg division. Known for her strong clean and jerk, she will be aiming to secure another major international medal.

The action continues on July 28, with Harjinder Kaur representing India in the women's 69kg event. Harjinder has steadily developed into one of India's most reliable middleweight lifters. She enters Glasgow ranked third among Commonwealth competitors, making bronze the most likely outcome. However, if she delivers close to her personal best, a silver medal is well within reach.

The following day, Dilbag Singh becomes one of India's strongest hopes in the men's 94kg category.

Ranked second entering the competition, Dilbag has consistently challenged the best lifters in Asia and will aim to convert that experience into a Commonwealth medal. Silver appears the safest prediction, although he possesses the ability to fight for gold if everything comes together.

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One of the most exciting stories in India's squad is Sanjana. Only 19 years old, she has made remarkable progress over the past year despite dropping her body weight from 74 kilograms to 70.8 kilograms. Even more impressive has been her 10-kilogram improvement in total lifts during that period, highlighting both her technical development and physical progression.

Ranked fourth entering the women's 77kg competition, Sanjana may not begin among the favourites, but she represents one of India's brightest long-term prospects. A podium finish would be a significant achievement, while even a top-five result would mark another important step in her development.

India's campaign concludes with the heavyweight categories on July 30. Martina Devi will compete in the women's +86kg division, entering the Games with realistic bronze medal ambitions. Her consistency over the past season makes her one of India's safer podium bets in the heavier weight classes.

The final Indian lifter of the Games will be Lovepreet Singh in the men's +110kg category.

A Commonwealth medallist in previous editions, Lovepreet once again finds himself among the leading contenders. Ranked third entering Glasgow, another bronze medal appears the most likely outcome, although heavyweight competitions often produce dramatic shifts based on a single successful clean and jerk.

Weightlifting has repeatedly delivered medals for India at the Commonwealth Games, and Glasgow presents another opportunity to continue that tradition. The squad combines proven champions like Mirabai Chanu with experienced campaigners such as Bindyarani Devi, Harjinder Kaur and Lovepreet Singh, while younger lifters including Rishikant Singh, Ajaya Babu Valluri and Sanjana represent the future of Indian weightlifting.

On current form, India could realistically target three to four gold medals, along with several silver and bronze finishes.

Mirabai Chanu and Rishikant Singh enter as favourites for gold, while Ajaya Babu Valluri has every chance of joining them if he reproduces his best lifts on the international stage.

Behind them, athletes such as Gyaneshwari Yadav, Bindyarani Devi, Dilbag Singh, Harjinder Kaur and Lovepreet Singh provide India with medal opportunities across multiple weight categories.

If the lifters perform close to their personal bests, the SEC Armadillo could once again become one of India's happiest hunting grounds, reinforcing weightlifting's status as one of the country's most reliable medal-producing sports at the Commonwealth Games.