Manama [Bahrain], December 6: A three-member Indian women’s team will compete in the World Weightlifting Championship in Manama, Bahrain, starting on Friday. The event, which will run until December 16, will be without Tokyo Olympics 2020 silver medalist Mirabai Chanu, who is focusing on long-term rehabilitation for her injuries. Chanu last competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics but narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth.
In Chanu’s absence, Gyaneshwari Yadav, a promising young lifter, will represent India in the women’s 49 kg category. Yadav has already made a mark by winning silver at the Junior World Championships and a gold medal in the 49 kg division at last year’s Commonwealth Championships. She remains the only Indian lifter in Group A of her category at the championships.
Another key competitor is Commonwealth Games silver medalist Bindyarani Devi, who will compete in the non-Olympic 55 kg weight class, Group B. Ditimoni Sonowal, also competing in a non-Olympic weight class, will participate in the women’s 64 kg Group C.
This year, India will not have any male competitors, unlike the previous year when four male lifters—Achinta Sheuli, Ajith Narayan, Gurdeep Singh, and Shubham Tanaji Todkar—represented the country at the World Championships in Riyadh.
Indian Weightlifters’ Schedule at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championship (IST):
- December 7 (Friday)
- Women’s 49kg (Group A) – 8:00 PM
- December 8 (Saturday)
- Women’s 55kg (Group C) – 12:30 PM
- Women’s 55kg (Group B) – 5:30 PM
- Women’s 55kg (Group A) – 10:30 PM
- December 10 (Tuesday)
- Women’s 64kg (Group D) – 10:30 AM
- Women’s 64kg (Group C) – 12:30 PM
- Women’s 64kg (Group B) – 5:30 PM
- Women’s 64kg (Group A) – 10:30 PM