India, July 27 -- Mirabai Chanu's Commonwealth Games story came full circle on Sunday in the same city where it began. Only this time, there was no one left to catch her.

Twelve years ago, a 19-year-old Mirabai arrived in Glasgow fresh off winning gold at the 2013 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, where she lifted a combined 166kg in the 48kg category. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, she improved that total to 170kg but lost gold by the narrowest of margins.

It became an all-Manipur duel. Sanjita Chanu led after the snatch, and the pair traded the lead through the clean and jerk before Sanjita's final lift secured a winning total of 173kg. Mirabai attempted 98kg with her final lift to tie the score but fell agonisingly short. Sh...