Greater Noida. Star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will again lead the Indian challenge at the World Weightlifting Championships to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in September. Apart from two-time medalist Chanu (49kg), Commonwealth Games medalists Bindiarani Devi (55kg) and Achinta Sheyuli (73kg), Shubham Todkar (61kg) and Narayan Ajit (73kg) will also be competing in the world event. Will take Except Todkar, this team will participate in the Asian Games. This will be Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Chanu’s first competition after finishing sixth at the Asian Championships in May.
Chanu and Bindiarani are currently in the US for a 65-day camp under former weightlifter turned physiotherapist and ‘strength and conditioning’ coach Dr Aaron Horshig. National coach Vijay Sharma, who is also currently in the US, told PTI, “Mira is not injured, we are working on her strengths.” She will take part in the World Championships and the Asian Games. “There is a very short time gap between the World Championship and the Asian Games. The World Championship is usually held at the end of the year in November and December, but this time it is starting from September 4 and the Asian Games will start within 20 days from September 23 in Hangzhou, China.
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The Asian Games is not a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Chanu’s tally of medals is only short of an Asiad medal. Former world champion Chanu had won a silver medal in the previous edition of the World Championship in December last year. But participation in the 2023 World Championship and 2024 World Cup is mandatory under the 2024 Olympic Qualification Rules. Apart from these two, a lifter has to participate in three of the 2022 World Championship, 2023 Continental Championship, 2023 Grand Prix 1, 2023 Grand Prix 2 and 2024 Continental Championship. Indian team: Women: Mirabai Chanu (49kg), Bindiarani Devi (55kg) Men: Achinta Sheyuli (73kg), Shubham Todkar (61kg) and Narayan Ajit (73kg).
