Bindyarani Devi wins bronze medal in 58kg women’s weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026

India’s weightlifting contingent continued its impressive run at the 2026 Commonwealth Games as Bindyarani Devi clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category on Monday, taking the country’s overall medal tally to six in Glasgow.

The Manipur weightlifter registered a combined lift of 199kg to finish third on the podium, while Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade dominated the competition with a winning total of 229kg. The bronze added another chapter to India’s successful weightlifting campaign after Mirabai Chanu’s gold and the silver medals won by Chanambam Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi.

Growing up in Manipur, Bindyarani idolised fellow state icon Mirabai Chanu and dreamt of following in the Olympic medallist’s footsteps. Her mother played a crucial role in instilling discipline during her formative years, while Mirabai herself advised the youngster on improving her diet after learning that Bindyarani often preferred fast food over proper nutrition.

That guidance proved invaluable as Bindyarani steadily climbed through the junior circuit before establishing herself as one of India’s leading weightlifters.

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 marked Bindyarani’s arrival on the global stage when she claimed silver in the women’s 55kg category.

Prior to that, she had already announced herself by winning gold at the 2019 Commonwealth Championships before adding another silver at the 2021 edition. Her consistency continued with a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Championships, as she cemented her place among India’s premier weightlifters.