Manipur weightlifter Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam’s bronze medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games exceeded her family’s expectations, with her mother saying they had not anticipated a podium finish after she was moved to the 58kg weight category.
Speaking to reporters, Bindyarani’s mother, Sorokhaibam Ongbi Ibemcha, said the family was overjoyed by the result, as the shift to a higher weight division had made the competition considerably more challenging.
She said the family had not expected a medal and recalled that they had little understanding of competitive weightlifting when Bindyarani won silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Ibemcha said their hopes of another medal had diminished after her daughter was moved from her preferred weight category to the 58kg division. Despite the setback, she said Bindyarani’s determination and hard work helped her secure a bronze medal, which the family regarded as a significant achievement.
Describing the medal as the reward for years of perseverance, Ibemcha said finishing third in a highly competitive field was an accomplishment in itself. She also expressed confidence that her daughter could have won gold had she competed in her original 53kg category.
According to Ibemcha, the bronze medal brought the family even greater satisfaction than the silver won in Birmingham because they had entered the competition without expecting a podium finish.
Bindyarani claimed bronze with a combined lift of 199kg, finishing behind Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, who won gold with a Commonwealth Games record total of 229kg, and Canada’s Ann Sophie Taschereau, who secured silver with 215kg.
The Indian lifter made a consistent start in the snatch after her coaches reduced her opening attempt from 85kg to 83kg. She successfully lifted 83kg, 85kg and 87kg to finish level with England’s Eliza Pratt but placed ahead on countback.
Her clean and jerk campaign began with disappointment when her opening lift of 110kg was ruled a no-lift after a jury review due to an elbow buckle. She recovered by successfully lifting 112kg to take her overall total to 199kg and briefly move into the silver-medal position. However, she was unable to complete her final attempt of 116kg, which would have been a personal best, but her total proved enough to secure the bronze medal.
The podium finish marked Bindyarani’s second Commonwealth Games medal after winning silver in Birmingham in 2022. It also completed a remarkable comeback following her recovery from a knee injury in 2023 and her successful transition to competing in both the 55kg and 58kg categories.
Bindyarani’s bronze took India’s medal tally at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to six, comprising one gold, three silver and two bronze medals, including one in para powerlifting.
