Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu led India’s contingent at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026 in Glasgow and subsequently expressed gratitude to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) for the opportunity. Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain jointly led the Indian contingent, with the IOA appointing Chanu as flag bearer and Borgohain as baton bearer for the ceremony.
As part of the Commonwealth Games tradition, each of the 74 Commonwealth nations and territories received a specially designed baton reflecting their distinct culture and identity. These batons were brought together during the opening ceremony before the Games were officially opened.
On her social media platform X, Mirabai Chanu said, “What a proud moment it was to lead the Indian contingent with our tricolour flag at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow yesterday. I would like to thank our government, Indian Olympic Association and our Weightlifting Federation for giving me this opportunity.”
Indian weightlifting squad aims to deliver at CWG 2026
The weightlifting competition will be held from July 26 to 30 at the SEC Armadillo during the Games, which run from July 23 to August 2. Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu has urged India's weightlifting squad to remain composed as they prepare for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, saying handling pressure will be key to delivering strong performances.
Speaking to ANI, Chanu said expectations of winning medals naturally bring pressure, particularly for athletes making their Commonwealth Games debut. However, she stressed that the team should trust its preparation and focus on delivering on competition day.
"I tell the whole team to stay relaxed. Everyone feels pressure, especially those who are competing for the first time," Chanu said.
Chanu will compete in the women's 48kg category. India's women's squad also features Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Bindyarani Devi (58kg), Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Sanjana (77kg) and Martina Devi (+86kg). The men's team comprises Rishikanta Singh (60kg), M Raja (65kg), Ajaya Babu (79kg), Dilbag Singh (94kg) and Lovepreet Singh (+110kg).
