Asian Games the bigger goal for Mirabai and coach

Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, 31, will compete in the 48kg category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, shifting from her usual 49kg. Despite being a two-time CWG gold medalist (2018, 2022) and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, her coach Vijay Sharma has advised her not to overexert in Glasgow to avoid injury, as the primary focus is the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, where she has yet to win a medal. Mirabai acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining weight but expressed determination to perform well against strong competitors from Nigeria and Canada. Sharma, also the national coach, expects India's medal tally in Glasgow to reach as high as 10, citing promising young lifters. The competition begins Sunday at the Scottish Event Campus.