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Journalism of Courage
Although the Los Angeles Olympics are not at the front and centre of her plans, Tokyo Games silver medallist Mirabai Chanu will be forced to rejig her approach after the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) dropped her weight category from the 2028 Games.
In a brief statement on Monday, the IWF said it had chosen 12 weight classes – six each in men and women – for the LA Games. The lowest category for women now will be 53kg, instead of 49kg at the Paris Olympics.
This is the second weight adjustment Mirabai will have to make after the world body recently changed the entry-level weight category for the World Championships to 48kg from 49kg. The latter class has now been restored, and the IWF said the new categories will come into effect from August 1, 2026.
Last month, Mirabai won a silver medal at the World Championships in the 48kg category by lifting a total of 199kg (84 in snatch and 115 in clean and jerk). It was her third World Championship medal.
Sources in Mirabai’s entourage said the weight category change might not immediately impact the lifter, given that her first priority is the Asian Games next year. The Asiad remains unaffected by the Olympic programme, and Mirabai can continue competing in her pet weight category.
”The Asian Games is the only major event where she hasn’t won a medal, so the priority is to stay fit and compete there. After that, depending on how she is feeling physically, we will take a call on whether she will stay on till the 2028 Olympics,” the source said.
However, it is believed that the weight change at the Olympics could be beneficial for India, as lifters who struggled to maintain their weight to compete in 48/49 kg categories will now have a chance to add muscle mass and challenge in the 53kg class.
Moreover, the current youth world record holder in the 53kg is India’s Koyel Bar, who lifted a total of 192kg at the Commonwealth Championships in August. “If we plan well and groom the lifters, we can do well in this category. But this is something we will start considering after the Asian Games, once we have a clear picture for the road ahead,” the source said.
