When will Mirabai Chanu be in action at World Weightlifting Championships 2026?
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India’s Olympic medallist begins a new chapter in weightlifting
Mirabai Chanu will be in action at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China, on October 29.
The Indian weightlifter has been listed in the women’s 53kg category, marking an important step as she begins competing in the weight class that will feature at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
According to the official IWF start list, Chanu is scheduled to compete in Group B at 1:30 pm IST. The championships are being held from October 27 to November 8, with lifters from across the world competing for medals in their respective weight categories.
Mirabai Chanu’s competition date and time
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The official start list confirms Mirabai’s entry in the women’s 53kg Group B, with an entry total of 200kg. Her session is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm local time (1:30 pm IST).
- Event: Women’s 53kg
- Group: B
- Date: October 29, 2026
- Time: 1:30 PM IST
- Venue: Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre, China
- Entry total: 200kg
The entry total is the declared figure used for the start list and should not be confused with her final competition result.
Although Group A generally features lifters with higher declared entry totals, athletes from all groups are ranked together for the overall medals.
Besides Mirabai, India will be represented by Gyaneshwari Yadav in the women’s 53kg category, while Usha and Nirupama Devi Seram will compete in the women’s 61kg division. Lovepreet Singh will lead India’s challenge in the men’s +110kg category.
Recent performances before the World Championships
Mirabai enters the World Weightlifting Championships after a successful run in the women’s 49kg category. At the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, she won silver with a total of 198kg, lifting 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk.
The medal was a significant achievement, completing her collection of medals at the Asian Games after several previous campaigns without a podium finish.
She also won gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, adding to her impressive record at the event. Her experience includes Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020 and a world championship title in 2017.
These performances underline her ability to compete at the highest level, although the move to 53kg presents a new physical and technical challenge.
Also Read: List of all records set by Mirabai Chanu at Commonwealth Games 2026
Why is Mirabai Chanu competing in the 53kg category?
The women’s 53kg category featured at Rio 2016 but was dropped for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 following Olympic weight-class revisions. It will return at Los Angeles 2028, replacing the women’s 49kg division in which Mirabai Chanu won silver at Tokyo 2020.
The move requires Mirabai to adapt to a higher weight category by building strength and increasing her lifting totals without compromising speed, technique or efficiency. While the 49kg category remains part of the World Championships, the 53kg division is central to her LA28 ambitions.
She will also face a competitive field featuring China’s Zhang Haijin, the Philippines’ Rosalia Ramos, Belgium’s Nina Sterckx and Romania’s Mihaela Cambei. All are listed in Group A with declared entry totals above 210kg.
Mirabai’s October 29 appearance will offer an early indication of how she is adapting to the new category. However, one competition alone will not determine her Olympic prospects.
Where and when is the World Weightlifting Championships 2026 taking place?
The tournament is being held at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre, China from October 7 to November 8.
When will Mirabai Chanu be in action at the World Weightlifting Championships 2026?
Chanu is expected to be in action on October 29 (Thursday) around 1:30 pm IST. She’ll compete in the women’s 53kg category.
How can fans watch Mirabai Chanu in action at the World Weightlifting Championships 2026?
In India, fans can watch the competition live on the IWF TV, which is the official streaming platform of the global federation.
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