World Cup: Mirabai withdraws due to back problems, Gyaneshwari finishes 8th

Commonwealth Games silver medalist Gyaneshwari Yadav finished eighth at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships on Thursday, while India’s star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu pulled out of the competition due to back problems.

The 23-year-old from Chhattisgarh lifted a total of 198 kg, including 88 kg in the clean and 110 kg in the throw, to top Group C. Her combined effort was enough to finish ahead of several competitors from Groups A and B in the final standings.

Gyaneshwari could have finished higher had she converted two dropped attempts, one into a rip and the other into a rip. The Asian Championship silver medalist in the 53kg category came close to bettering her personal best of 199kg but failed to add to her total.

Meanwhile, Chanu was set to make her debut in the 53kg category at the World Championships. The Olympic silver medalist was placed in Group B with an entry total of 200 kg, but withdrew from the competition after suffering back pain.

The world title was won by China’s Zhang Haiqin with a total lift of 221 kg, combining 98 kg in the snatch and 123 kg in the throw. American Eleanor Ulrey claimed the silver medal with 220 kg (98 kg + 122 kg), while North Korea’s So Hyon Kim secured bronze with a total of 214 kg (91 kg + 123 kg).

The competition also highlighted the challenge of the snatch section, where up to seven competitors managed 90kg or more. Chanu has been aiming to reach this mark consistently in the catch for over six years, so the performances in this category are worth watching.

At the World Championships, lifters are divided into groups based on their declared entry totals, which represent the combined weight they intend to lift over the jerk and clean and jerk. Group A includes lifters with the highest declared totals, while Groups B, C, and D include athletes with progressively lower entry totals. Groupings determine when competing lifters compete, but their combined totals in both events decide the final standings.

The world championships are among six events in the first phase of the qualification system for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The competition offers weightlifters an early opportunity to compete in the qualification cycle as they begin to prepare for the Games.

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