Mirabai Chanu to lead India at world weightlifting c'ships in China

Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu will lead India’s campaign at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships, scheduled to be held at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre in China from October 27 to November 8.
The championships will be the first of 10 qualifying events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, providing lifters an opportunity to begin their qualification journey. More than 500 athletes from across the world are expected to participate.Chanu will compete in the women’s 53 kg category as she begins her campaign in a new weight class for the LA 2028 Olympic cycle. The 49 kg category, in which she won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is no longer part of the Olympic weightlifting programme.
Under the qualification system, athletes must record their best combined totals in the snatch and clean and jerk across two qualification periods. The top eight eligible lifters in each Olympic weight category will secure quota places for the Los Angeles Games.India’s women’s squad includes Gyaneshwari Yadav alongside Chanu in the 53 kg category, while Usha and Nirupama Devi Seram will compete in the 61 kg category. Lovepreet Singh will represent India in the men’s +110 kg category.The championships will offer Indian lifters an opportunity to compete against leading international athletes and build their Olympic qualification rankings. Indian fans will be able to watch the competition through live streaming.