Mirabai Chanu is one of India's sporting heroes of the moment - highly regarded both within and without the subcontinent - and put on a spectacular show on the first day of Weightlifting at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

This marks the Manipur-born lifter's third consecutive title-win at the Commonwealth Games since Gold Coast 2018. At just 31, this is the ninth gold medal won by the Indian weightlifter.

The Olympic silver medallist faltered to begin with, losing her balance on the squat during the Snatch and failing her opening 82kg lift, before clearing the same weight on her second attempt and 85kg on her third attempt without issue - breaking a Commonwealth Record.

Mirabai Chanu Saikhom had the honour of bearing the flag for Team India, lead her teammates during the opening ceremony ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games at The Hydro

Photography Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images

Again on the Clean & Jerk, Mirabai failed her opening lift at 105kg, though recovered on the second attempt - securing the gold medal for India alongside another Commonwealth Record. A winning total of 190kg meant a total sweep of records for the strength athlete.

Chanu will defend her title at the next Commonwealth Games, this time in her home country of India, at Amdavad 2030.