Bindyarani Devi Wins Bronze in Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026

Bindyarani Devi Secures Bronze in the Women’s 58 kg Category

Rising through the competition on July 27, 2026, Indian weightlifter Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam delivered a strong performance to earn a podium finish in the women’s 58 kg weight class at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Hailing from Imphal, Manipur, and born into a farming family, the athlete managed a combined total of 199 kg to lock down third place.

Her routine combined a snatch lift of 87 kg with a clean and jerk of 112 kg according to reporting from the venue. Though she fell short on her final attempt to hoist 116 kg in the clean and jerk, her earlier totals proved more than sufficient to preserve her standing on the medal table. The contest for the top spots proved fierce: Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal dominated the division with an aggregate lift of 229 kg (103 kg in snatch plus 126 kg in clean and jerk) to take the gold medal, while Canada’s Annie Sofie Taschereau secured the silver with a total of 215 kg (94 kg plus 121 kg).

For Bindyarani, the bronze continues an impressive multi-year streak on the international stage. She previously earned a silver medal at the 2022 Birmingham Games and followed it up with a second-place finish at the Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad last year.

India’s Medal Tally and Weightlifting Dominance

Bindyarani’s performance marked India’s sixth medal of the 2026 Games as noted in regional sports coverage. The nation’s campaign has relied heavily on its weightlifters, who account for five of those six total medals. Earlier in the schedule, compatriot Gyaneshwari Yadav captured a silver medal in the 53 kg weight class.

The heavy reliance on the iron game highlights the traditional strength of Indian weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, a dominance underscored just a day prior by Mirabai Chanu. Competing in the 48 kg category on July 26, 2026, Chanu completed a golden hat-trick by securing her third Commonwealth Games gold medal, following previous titles in 2018 at Gold Coast and 2022 at Birmingham, alongside a silver from Glasgow 2014.

Mirabai Chanu Sets New Records and Draws Praise

Chanu’s victory in the 48 kg division was nothing short of historic. During her event, she hoisted 85 kg on her third attempt, establishing a new Commonwealth Games snatch record NDTV Marathi. Having started the session by successfully lifting 82 kg to break the existing mark, she pushed the boundary further with her final effort.

Observers noted that the lift represented the highest weight ever recorded by any competitor from Commonwealth nations in any major international competition, spanning both the World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, stated that another glorious chapter had been written in Indian weightlifting, noting that the talented Mirabai Chanu had once again showcased her skills at the Commonwealth Games with a stunning performance in the 48 kg category to win gold, adding that she had secured back-to-back Commonwealth Games golds along with an overall fourth CWG medal.

Mentorship and Discipline Behind the Success

The triumphs of both Chanu and Bindyarani point to a deeper training ecosystem rooted in Manipur. Growing up, Bindyarani looked up to Chanu as her primary athletic role model according to biographical details released during the event. While her mother instilled strict discipline early in life, Chanu provided direct guidance on nutrition, fitness, and dietary habits.

Those lifestyle adjustments proved critical for Bindyarani’s development on the platform. Early in her athletic pursuits, she favored fast food, but she later overhauled her diet to eliminate distractions and focus entirely on her training regimen. That pivot paid dividends as she secured yet another international medal for India, keeping the delegation’s momentum alive at the 2026 Games.