Mirabai Chanu Shines Amidst India's Third Consecutive Doping Shame

• Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal at the World Championships and a gold at the Commonwealth Championships in 2025, marking her significant comeback.
• She lifted 199 kg (84 kg snatch, 115 kg clean and jerk) in Forde, Norway, solidifying her leadership in Indian weightlifting.
• India faced its third consecutive year with the worst doping record according to WADA 2024 data, with weightlifting ranking second in doping cases.
• Other senior Indian weightlifters showed weak performance, excelling only at the Commonwealth level, not world-class.
• Junior and youth athletes like Koyal Bar and Pritismita Bhoi offered hope, setting youth world records and winning gold, looking towards upcoming Asian and Commonwealth Games.

Why It Matters: Mirabai Chanu's stellar performance contrasts sharply with India's persistent doping issues in weightlifting.