Weightlifting World C’ships: Focus on Indian men as Mirabai, Bindyarani expected to not lift

A total of 719 lifters – 354 men and 365 men from across the globe will flock to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships starting Monday.

The competition is also a mandatory event in order to be eligible to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Though the athletes are not required to register a lift compulsorily in Riyadh, they are required to mark their presence in the global event.

Making use of the above condition laid down by the International Weightlifting Federation will be India’s most accomplished weightlifter Mirabai Chanu.

The 29-year-old from Manipur, who was considered to be India’s biggest medal hope, will only compete in the weigh-in and not register a lift in the competition.

The Indian national coach Vijay Sharma has revealed that this is to keep the former world champion fit for the upcoming 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which is all set to begin just a week after the World Championships.

Indian female weightlifter Mirabai Chanu set her sights firmly on an elusive medal at Hangzhou Asian Games, she will not lift any weight at next week's World Championship.#Hangzhou #AsianGames #Weightlifting #TeamIndia #HangzhouAsianGames @WeAreTeamIndia pic.twitter.com/j2ME1iRyRp— 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Official (@19thAGofficial) August 30, 2023

Chanu, who has been battling fitness issues off late, has been registered to lift a total of...

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