Mirabai Chanu: At 12, she carried firewood her elder brothers struggled with; years later, she won India's first gold at Commonwealth Games 2026

At just 12 years old, Mirabai Chanu was already showing signs of extraordinary strengt. According to a report by Reuters, she used to carry heavy loads of firewood from the mountains that her elder brothers found difficult to carry. Little did anyone know that this task would lead to one of India’s most successful weight lifters.This is the inspiring story of one of India’s most celebrated weight lifters, Mirabai Chanu. From being an amateur to India’s first medal hope at CWG 2026. It was by sheer luck that Mirabai came across the sport of weight lifting. Talking about her initiation into the sport, Mirabai stated, “I had used to assist my siblings and parents with carrying firewood along with fetching water from long distances. I realized that I possessed some level of innate power which eventually saw me get involved in the sport. It was my mother who encouraged me to take up weightlifting after realizing that I had this special talent for sports,” she added.Despite the odds, Mirabai made it big in the field of weightlifting.The belief that won her gold medalHaving overcome numerous challenges in her carrier, Mirabai had realized the importance of self-belief. Overcoming all odds to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games was one achievement that changed her life.“When it comes to material things, you might feel that winning a medal at the Olympics or CWG might have brought a lot of changes in my life. However, having won a medal at the Olympics, I have realized that I should believe in myself even more. I realized that there is nothing that I cannot achieve as long as I have self-belief.For instance, winning a silver medal at the Olympics was surprising considering the fact that I had gone through a lot of trials and tribulations. This is sufficient proof that there is nothing that I cannot achieve as long as I have belief in myself,” she said while talking to Reuters from her Patiala camp.Such a powerful belief saw Mirabai win gold medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 . In fact, she laid the foundation for India’s hopes on gold medals at the prestigious event.Mirabai wins India’s first gold medal at Commonwealth Games 2026Mirabai has had a fantastic run at the Commonwealth Games 2026, winning India’s first-ever gold medal at the prestigious tournament. Chanu has been dominant in the women’s 87kg category , setting the tone for the country’s medal hopes at the event.The legendary weight lifter has had a phenomenal career so far.Overcoming injuries and setbacksLike all other sportspersons, Mirabai has also dealt with injuries and setbacks throughout her career. However, the 23-year-old has shown incredible mental strength in overcoming these challenges.“Injuries and setbacks are inevitable in this sport. However, what you choose to do after facing these setbacks determines whether you will be successful or not. For instance, I deal with frustrations brought about by injuries and losses by focusing on what needs to be done. My mother always reminds me not to think of things that are beyond my control. At this moment, my preparations for the Paris games are on track.Training under coach Vijay Sharma has also helped me overcome these challenges. There is always a lot of pressure ahead of the games, especially considering the fact that there are always high expectations running behind the scenes. With regards to the upcoming event, Vijay sir and I believe that a medal is within my reach as long as I can manage to lift more than 200kgs,” she said while talking to Reuters.Mirabai Chanu comes from humble beginnings and has had a dramatic journey from carrying firewood to becoming one of India’s most successful weight lifters. The numerous awards and accolades that have followed her career are a true testament of her power and determination.