When Olympic silver medallist , world champion and India's most decorated weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu stepped onto the podium in Glasgow after clinching her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold , it wasn't just another medal. It was the culmination of four years marked by injuries, setbacks, sacrifice and unwavering belief. From becoming India's first gold medallist at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in the women's 48kg weightlifting category with a total lift of 190kg to leading the Indian contingent as flag bearer, it has been a week to remember. In an exclusive conversation with
Bangalore Times from Glasgow, Mirabai reflects on the emotional victory, the injuries that nearly derailed her journey, coping with immense expectations, and why her biggest goals still lie ahead.



"I still haven't celebrated properly," she says with a smile. "Some friends came over and we spent a little time together, but there hasn't been any big celebration. When I was standing there with the medal, I was both emotional and happy. Everything I had gone through over the last four years flashed before my eyes. Every sacrifice, every difficult day... it all came back in that one moment. When I saw the Indian flag going up, it felt like all the tiredness, all the pain and every struggle disappeared. Those were tears of joy. I just couldn't stop myself," she explains.




'Injuries don't just affect your body; they affect your mind too'



Behind the smile and the gold medal was a journey that tested her physically and mentally. "It was a very difficult phase. Even before the Paris Olympics, I was struggling with injuries. After Paris too, they just continued. Sometimes it was my shoulder, sometimes my hip, sometimes my wrist. I couldn't give 100 per cent in training," she says.



For Mirabai, the biggest challenge wasn't lifting heavier weights—it was learning to trust her body again. "When you're trying to get back to your best but your body isn't cooperating, it's frustrating. Every time I attempted a heavy lift, there was always the fear of another injury," she says even as she credits much of her comeback to her coach.



"My coach Vijay Sharma looked after everything—my training, recovery, diet, even how much load my body could take. A coach plays such an important role in an athlete's life. I honestly don't think I would have reached here without his support," she says.




'Pressure is always there; I just don't let it enter the competition arena'



Being India's biggest weightlifting star also comes with enormous expectations. "Of course there's pressure. Before Paris, everyone believed I would win a medal. I believed it too. I tried my best, but because of my injuries, I couldn't train the way I wanted," she admits.



When asked how she stays calm before a competition, her answer is simple. "I don't think too much. If you overthink, your body becomes tight and your performance suffers. I speak to my coach, we discuss the opening lift and the strategy, and then I simply enjoy the process. His words always help me relax," she explains.




'Parents play the biggest role in an athlete's dream'



Mirabai's message isn't just for aspiring athletes, but also for their families. "Parents have a huge role in helping a child achieve their dreams. There are moments when an athlete feels broken or loses confidence. That's when parents need to stand behind them and give them strength," she says.



Her advice to young sportspersons is equally heartfelt. She says, "Never give up. Injuries will come, training won't always go well, and sometimes you'll miss a medal. But if you stay mentally strong and keep working hard, one day you'll achieve your dream."