Guwahati, July 27 -- Olympic medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu gave India a dream start at the 2026 Commonwealth Games by clinching the country's first gold medal with a commanding performance in the women's 48 kg weightlifting event.

The 31-year-old weightlifting star from Manipur lived up to her billing as the overwhelming favourite, finishing with a total lift of 190 kg to secure her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. Her victory came on the same day fellow Manipuri lifter Chanambam Rishikanta Singh won silver in the men's 60 kg category, taking India's medal tally to three at the Games.

Weightlifting has once again emerged as one of India's strongest disciplines at the Commonwealth Games, with two medals already secured....