From Gold to Greatness: Mirabai Chanu's New Mission Is to Build India's Next Champions

New Delhi | August 4, 2026: India's star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is embracing a new mission beyond the podium—training the next generation of champions. Days after winning her third Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow, the Olympic silver medallist revealed that she and national coach Vijay Sharma have established the Weightlifting Warriors Academy in Modinagar, where around 40 young girls are currently undergoing training.

The Glasgow triumph was especially emotional for Chanu. Unlike the heartbreak of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she narrowly missed a medal by just one kilogram, her victory in Scotland marked a successful comeback from injury and a remarkable adjustment to the 48kg weight category. The city also holds special significance for the 31-year-old, as it was where she won her first major international medal—a Commonwealth Games silver—in 2014.

Speaking to India Today, Chanu said the academy is dedicated exclusively to nurturing girls aged 8 to 14 years. She explained that encouraging more girls to take up weightlifting has always been her dream, adding that interest in the sport increased significantly after her Tokyo Olympic silver medal.

The academy currently trains athletes from across the country, with around 20 girls from Assam, 20 from Manipur, and several others from states including Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra.

Chanu said coaching young athletes reminds her of her own childhood and early struggles in the sport. Training alongside the girls, she added, gives her fresh motivation while allowing her to pass on the lessons and experiences she has gained throughout her career.

Even after completing her own event in Glasgow, Chanu stayed at the venue to mentor fellow Indian athletes, offer encouragement, and help with translation for competitors from Manipur who faced language barriers.

Reflecting on her role, Chanu said that while winning medals is rewarding, helping another athlete perform at their best on the biggest stage brings her equal satisfaction and inspires her to keep contributing to the sport.

Despite an illustrious career that includes an Olympic silver and three Commonwealth Games gold medals, Chanu believes one major achievement still remains. She said her full focus is now on winning a medal at the Asian Games, a title that has so far eluded her. Following the Asian Games, she is expected to move to the 53kg weight category as she continues the next phase of her career.

As she balances elite competition with mentoring young athletes, Mirabai Chanu is building a legacy that extends beyond medals—one that aims to inspire and develop India's future champions.

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