Northeast athletes power India's Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign as Manipur's Mirabai Chanu wins gold, Rishikanta Singh claims silver and Assam's Lovlina Borgohain assures a boxing medal.
Imphal, July 26: Athletes from Northeast India have once again emerged as the backbone of India's campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, accounting for all of the country's medal-winning performances in the opening phase of the competition. With Saikhom Mirabai Chanu winning gold, Chanambam Rishikanta Singh securing silver and Lovlina Borgohain assuring herself of at least a bronze medal, the region has reaffirmed its reputation as one of India's strongest sporting nurseries.
The performances from Manipur and Assam have given India an encouraging start as several medal events in boxing, weightlifting, athletics and other disciplines remain to be contested over the coming days.
Heartiest congratulations to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu on winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s 48 kg Weightlifting event at the #CommonwealthGames2026 in Glasgow, while shattering multiple records.
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) July 26, 2026
Your extraordinary achievement is a shining testament to dedication, resilience, and… pic.twitter.com/lmGk3N75vK
Mirabai Chanu opens India's gold account in style
Olympic silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu once again demonstrated why she is regarded as one of India's greatest weightlifters by clinching the women's 48kg gold medal on Sunday.
The Manipur star dominated the competition from start to finish, lifting 85kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 190kg, setting new Commonwealth Games records in the process. The victory marked India's first gold medal of the Glasgow Games and extended Mirabai's remarkable legacy on the Commonwealth stage.
The gold is another milestone in the decorated career of the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, who has consistently remained among the world's elite weightlifters for nearly a decade.
Congratulating Mirabai Chanu on her triumph, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh wrote on X, "Heartiest congratulations to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu on winning the Gold Medal in the Women's 48 kg Weightlifting event at the #CommonwealthGames2026 in Glasgow, while shattering multiple records." He described her feat as "a shining testament to dedication, resilience, and excellence" and added, "You have once again made Manipur and India immensely proud." The Chief Minister also wished the weightlifting champion "many more glorious successes ahead."
Mirabai Chanu's gold medal triumph also drew widespread praise from national leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed her latest achievement, writing, "Another glorious chapter in Indian Weightlifting!" He said the star weightlifter had "once again showcased her skills at the Commonwealth Games with a stunning performance in the 48 kg category and winning Gold." Referring to her remarkable record at the Games, the Prime Minister added, "With back-to-back Commonwealth Games Golds and an overall fourth CWG medal to her name, she remains an inspiration for every Indian." He congratulated Mirabai and wished her success in her future endeavours.
Very proud of Indian lifter Rishikanta Singh Chanambam for winning a Silver Medal and also achieving his personal best. His determination and outstanding performance have brought immense joy to the nation. May he continue to scale greater heights and inspire many young athletes.… pic.twitter.com/ab6hAi7vnA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2026
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also congratulated the Manipuri weightlifter, saying, "Mirabai has made India proud again!" He described her gold medal as "more than a medal – it is a celebration of perseverance, excellence & the indomitable spirit of Nari Shakti." Rijiju added, "The nation salutes you & celebrates your extraordinary achievement."
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla termed the victory "a golden beginning for Team India at the Commonwealth Games 2026." Congratulating Mirabai on winning India's first gold medal of the Games, he wrote, "Winning a third consecutive Commonwealth Games Gold is an extraordinary feat that reflects your unwavering determination, relentless discipline and unmatched consistency." Birla further said, "You have once again demonstrated that true champions are forged through resilience, dedication and an unyielding commitment to excellence," adding that her journey continues to inspire millions of Indians, especially young athletes, to dream fearlessly and strive for greatness.
Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also celebrated the achievement, posting, "What a moment! Watching our very own Manipuri daughter, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, win yet another Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow is pure joy." He described "three Commonwealth Games gold medals in a row" as "an incredible achievement" and noted that "setting a new Commonwealth Games record on the way to that gold makes this victory even more memorable." Congratulating Mirabai, he added, "You have made Manipur and the entire nation proud once again."
Rishikanta Singh adds silver after Games-record snatch
Shortly before Mirabai's triumph, fellow Manipuri lifter Chanambam Rishikanta Singh delivered another memorable performance by winning silver in the men's 60kg weightlifting event.
The 28-year-old produced a spectacular 121kg snatch, establishing a new Commonwealth Games record in the discipline and taking an early lead in the competition.
However, Malaysia's Mohamad Aniq Bin Kasdan produced stronger clean and jerk lifts to finish with an overall Commonwealth Games record total of 273kg, while Rishikanta concluded the event with 264kg (121kg + 143kg) to secure India's first silver medal of the Games. Kenya's Joshua Amunga Mboya claimed bronze with 260kg.
Although narrowly missing the gold medal, Rishikanta's performance further underlined Manipur's dominance in Indian weightlifting.
Rishikanta Singh's achievement also drew congratulations from national and state leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Manipuri weightlifter, saying, "Very proud of Indian lifter Rishikanta Singh Chanambam for winning a Silver Medal and also achieving his personal best." He added, "His determination and outstanding performance have brought immense joy to the nation. May he continue to scale greater heights and inspire many young athletes. Best wishes for his future endeavours!"
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya also congratulated the lifter, posting, "Heartiest congratulations to Rishikanta Singh Chanambam on winning the Silver Medal in Weightlifting Men's 60kg. The entire nation is proud of you!"
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh described the silver medal as another milestone in the state's sporting history. In a message on X, he wrote, "Heartiest congratulations to Rishikanta Singh Chanambam on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's 60kg Weightlifting event at the #CommonwealthGames2026 in Glasgow." Referring to the lifter's performance, the Chief Minister said, "His record-breaking 121kg snatch and 264kg total have brought immense pride to Manipur and India. This is another shining chapter in Manipur's sporting legacy, and I am confident many more success stories are yet to come." He also wished Rishikanta "continued success."
SIDA
Lovlina assured of a medal before entering the ring
Assam's Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain has also ensured India another podium finish in Glasgow.
Competing in the women's 75kg boxing category, Lovlina entered the tournament as the top seed in a five-boxer draw and received a direct bye into the semifinals. Under Commonwealth Games boxing regulations, every semifinalist is guaranteed at least a bronze medal, meaning the Indian boxer has already secured a place on the podium before her first bout.
Lovlina will now face TKBP Taafaki in the semifinal, with victory taking her into the gold medal contest and guaranteeing at least a silver medal.
The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist remains one of India's strongest medal prospects in boxing.
Northeast continues to drive India's sporting success
The latest performances once again underline the Northeast's growing influence in Indian sports.
Manipur has long been recognised as India's weightlifting powerhouse, producing Olympic medallists, world champions and Commonwealth Games winners over several decades. Mirabai Chanu follows a rich legacy that includes lifters such as Kunjarani Devi, Sanjita Chanu and Bindyarani Devi, while Rishikanta's silver further strengthens the state's reputation in the sport.
Similarly, Assam has emerged as a major force in Indian boxing through athletes like Lovlina Borgohain, whose achievements have inspired a new generation of young boxers across the region.
More Northeast medal hopes remain alive
India's medal prospects from the Northeast are far from over.
Several Manipuri weightlifters, including Bindyarani Devi, N. Ajita Chanu, L. Soniya Chanu and M. Sanjita Chanu, are scheduled to compete in the coming days and are considered among India's leading medal contenders.
Lovlina Borgohain also remains in contention to upgrade her assured bronze into silver or gold as the boxing competition progresses.
With multiple medal events still remaining, Indian officials will hope the Northeast's athletes continue to spearhead the country's challenge in Glasgow.
As of Sunday evening, India's campaign had yielded one gold, one silver and one assured bronze, with weightlifting and boxing providing the early momentum. Wrestling, badminton, athletics and several other disciplines are expected to contribute further to the medal tally in the days ahead.
