‘I will not give my full effort’: Mirabai Chanu prioritises Asian Games over Commonwealth Games 2026

New Delhi: Indian Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has confirmed that she will not attempt the coveted 90kg snatch at the , choosing instead to preserve her fitness for the s later in the year. She is targeting her first podium finish at the continental event, which is scheduled to be held from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Chanu is looking to win her third consecutive medal at the Commonwealth Games and was India’s flag-bearer along with Lovlina Borgohain during the opening ceremony on Thursday. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist said that her training programme has been structured with the Asian Games as the primary goal.

“I will not give my full effort in the Commonwealth Games. My focus is the Asian Games, which are very near. I am training according to that. So my performance and effort here will depend on that plan,” Chanu told PTI on Thursday.

“You can’t really predict how the body will perform on a given day, but I will try to get 90kg in the Asian Games for sure,” she added.

‘I am really happy that I will go to 53kg’

Chanu further revealed that she is happy to move up to the 53kg category after the Asian Games. She will be competing in the 49 kg category at the continental multi-sport event.

“Weight management is very difficult. Since the time I have been competing, I have been maintaining either 48kg or 49kg. It is very difficult. You have to keep track of a lot of things. Half a player’s life goes into this,”.

“I am really happy that I will go to 53kg. I will feel very relaxed that I will not have to control my weight. But yes, when the weight increases, there will be more competition and I will have to improve my performance,” Chanu said.

Chanu’s medal event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 will take place on July 26.