Injury Forces Mirabai Chanu to Skip Commonwealth Championships, Jeremy Lalrinnunga Ousted from National Training

New Delhi: Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is recovering well from a thigh injury she sustained about a month and a half ago. Currently in St Louis, USA, for a rehabilitation camp under the guidance of Dr Aron Horschig, Chanu is reported to be “95 per cent fit” but will not participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Championships in India. However, she is expected to compete at the World Championships and Asian Games in September.

The injury to Chanu’s thigh prompted the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) to send her to the US for treatment. She has been working with Dr Horschig, a former weightlifter-turned-physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach, since 2020. His expertise has helped Chanu address her imbalance issues, particularly in her snatch technique.

The IWLF, meanwhile, is preparing to host the Commonwealth Senior, Junior, and Youth Championships in Greater Noida from July 12. The Asian Youth and Junior Championships will also take place at the same venue from July 28.

IWLF President Sahdev Yadav emphasized the importance of protecting Chanu’s well-being and ensuring she achieves the required weight reduction for the 49kg category before competitions. Consequently, she will skip the Commonwealth Championships to avoid the strain of frequent weight cuts.

The World Championships are scheduled to begin on September 4 in Riyadh, followed by the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, starting on September 23. While the Asian Games are not a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning a medal at the event remains one of Chanu’s aspirations.

According to the 2024 Olympic qualification rule, it is compulsory for lifters to participate in both the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 World Cup. Therefore, missing the World Championships is not an option for the 28-year-old weightlifter.

In another development, Commonwealth Games champion Jeremy Lalrinnunga has been removed from the national camp. Lalrinnunga declined to go to the US for rehabilitation of his back injury and also missed the trials for the Asian Games and World Championships. The IWLF cited disciplinary issues and the need for performance as the reasons for his removal.

Similarly, Sanket Sargar, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, has also been excluded from the national camp in Patiala due to an injury and a decline in performance. In recent trials, junior players outperformed him.