Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu will not give her best effort at Commonwealth Games 2026 because she is preparing for the forthcoming Asian Games, she says, which she hopes will give her a historic medal.
Chanu is one of India's biggest medal hopes at the Commonwealth Games and enters the event as the defending champion from the 2018 and 2022 editions. Having won gold at both Games, the Olympic silver medallist will try to win a third consecutive Commonwealth Games title.
But Chanu, in a candid interview with PTI, said her focus will be on the Asian Games 2026, which take place in September and October.
“I will not give my full effort in the Commonwealth Games. My focus is the Asian Games, which are very close. I am training according to that. So, my performance and effort here will depend on that plan,” said the champion weightlifter.
Chanu also confirmed that she will not attempt to do the much anticipated 90kg snatch at the Commonwealth Games. The Indian star, however, is on the cusp of reaching the landmark lift at the Asian Games.
“You can’t really predict how the body will perform on a given day but I will try to get 90kg in the Asian Games for sure,” she added.
### Mirabai Chanu Eyes Missing Asian Games Medal
The decision is in keeping with Chanu's larger goal of success at the Asian Games. The Indian weightlifter has won almost every major honour in the sport.
Her impressive resume includes an Olympic silver medal, two Commonwealth Games gold medals and three World Championship gold medals. But an Asian Games medal still remains missing in her collection.
That gap has made the upcoming continental event especially important for the 2020 Olympic silver medallist. The 2026 Asian Games are set to start on September 19 and Chanu is working hard at her preparation for the competition.
Instead of pushing herself to the limit at the Commonwealth Games, the Indian weightlifter seems to be determined to maintain her energy and peak at the Asian Games. Her decision to skip the 90kg snatch attempt in the Commonwealth Games is part of that strategy.
With back-to-back Commonwealth Games gold medals already under her belt, Chanu has very little left to prove at the event. Her focus now is the Asian Games, where she will be able to win another long-anticipated medal to her decorated career.
The decision also highlights the difficulty experienced by elite athletes in managing their bodies across a number of major competitions in a single season. Chanu will also be at the Commonwealth Games to prepare for the Asian Games and the Asian Games are the goal for her, and that’s a big deal.
