Ace Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will skip the Weightlifting World Championships scheduled for next week in Manama, Bahrain.
Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Mirabai will continue her rehabilitation instead of participating in the World Championships.
Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu will miss next week’s weightlifting World Championships in Manama, Bahrain as she continues to undergo rehabilitation.
The 30-year-old former world champion has not competed since her fourth-place finish in the women’s 49kg category at the Paris Olympics in August.
“Mira is still in rehab after the Paris Olympics. She will not be taking part in this World Championship,” chief national coach Vijay Sharma told PTI.
“It is important for her to recover well as we will need to begin preparation for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games,” Sharma added.
Chanu was in a race against time to recover for the Paris Games after she suffered a hip injury at the Asian Games last year. There were murmurs surrounding her fitness even as she competed at the Olympics.
However, she missed a medal at the Asian Games and finished fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In the absence of Mirabai Chanu, Commonwealth Championship gold medallist Gyaneshwari Yadav will spearhead the Indian challenge at the World Championships, beginning on December 6. The 21-year-old will represent India in the 49kh weight class.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bindyarani Devi (55kg) and national championship and Khelo India Weightlifting League gold winner Ditimoni Sonowal (64kg) are the other two Indian lifters who will be competing at the world event.
Sharma, who is hopeful of a positive result, said, “The new kids are coming up, they are doing well. This is an opportunity for them to rub shoulders with the best in the world.”
The three are currently part of the national camp in Patiala and will leave for Bahrain early next week.
Comments are closed.