Mirabai Chanu to lead Indian team at world weightlifting championships 2023

New Delhi: Mirabai Chanu, the silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will be at the forefront of a five-member Indian contingent participating in the World Weightlifting Championships 2023.

The prestigious championship, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from September 4 to 17, serves as a crucial qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The team composition was announced by Olympics.com.

Chanu, who clinched the silver medal in the women's 49 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics, will compete in the same weight category at the championships. Joining her in the women's team is Bindyarani Devi, the gold medallist at the 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, who will participate in the women's 55kg event.

The men's team features Achinta Sheuli and reigning national champion Narayana Ajith, both of whom will compete in the 73 kg category. Shubham Todkar, who secured the gold medal in the 61 kg category at the ongoing Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in New Delhi, completes the men's team.

Jeremy Lalrinnunga, the Youth Olympic Games champion, will not be part of the Indian team for the World Weightlifting Championships 2023 due to an injury that caused him to miss the trials.

For Mirabai Chanu, the World Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Riyadh will be her second competition of the year. The 28-year-old athlete from Manipur recently participated in the Asian Championships in May, where she finished sixth. Having undergone a rigorous five-month rehabilitation program following hip surgery in December last year, Chanu is determined to showcase her strength and skill on the global stage.

The upcoming championships serve as a precursor to the Asian Games 2023, and the same Indian team, with the exception of Shubham Todkar, will represent the country in the continental showpiece event scheduled to be held from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China.