Mirabai Chanu faces a pivotal weight-class transition that could reshape her Olympic hopes
Bengaluru
The International Weightlifting Federation’s recent decision to drop the 48kg category for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has forced India’s star lifter Mirabai Chanu into yet another significant transition. The Tokyo silver medallist, who built her legacy in the now-discontinued class, will need to move up to 53kg — a shift filled with both opportunity and uncertainty.
Chanu, already accustomed to multiple category adjustments in recent years, now confronts one of the biggest changes of her career. Her long-time coach Vijay Sharma, however, views the development positively, calling it “the best thing possible.” According to him, moving up is more manageable than cutting further weight, and the immediate focus remains on next year’s major events — the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships. Chanu will continue in the 48kg class through 2026 before beginning a gradual bulk-up phase.
Her dominance in the lower category remains unquestioned. Earlier this year, she swept all three Commonwealth Championship records en route to qualifying for the Glasgow CWG. The Asian Games, though, pose a tougher task. India has not won a weightlifting medal at the Asiad since 1998, but new rules permitting only one athlete per nation per category and awarding separate medals for snatch and clean & jerk could work in Chanu’s favour.
Post-Asiad, the challenge intensifies. A carefully planned off-season will be crucial as she begins adding lean muscle mass — a process expected to take six to nine months. Nutrition experts and the IWLF support staff will guide her through building strength without compromising speed or explosiveness.
The gap to the world’s best in the 53kg division is significant, with North Korea’s Kang Hyon Gong and Romania’s Mihaela Cambei currently leading the pack. Yet sports scientists believe Chanu’s experience, refined technique and structured training give her a fighting chance.
Whether this forced shift becomes a blessing or a setback remains uncertain, but the road to Los Angeles promises to be one of the toughest, yet most defining chapters of her remarkable career.
