Understanding Mirabai Chanu's Exit

With former champion Mirabai Chanu (49kg) deciding not to compete and save her best for the upcoming Asian Games 2023, India’s medal prospects at the IWF World Championships 2023 appear bleak. The tournament in Riyadh serves as a mandatory Paris Olympic qualifier.

Mirabai Chanu will attend the weigh-in to retain eligibility for the Paris Games but will not participate in the event. This decision diminishes India’s hopes for medals at the World Championships, as none of the Indian lifters have entered with a starting weight that qualifies for Group A classification, where the top contenders compete.

N Ajith and Achinta Sheuli, both competing in the 73kg category, aim to prove themselves after being removed from the Asian Games 2023 squad for not meeting the Sports Ministry’s selection criteria. Ajith, the reigning national champion, has set an entry weight of 305kg and aims to reach 320kg. Sheuli, who has struggled with injuries, registered an entry weight of 280kg.

Shubham Todkar (61kg) is the third male lifter from India, looking to improve his performance after less-than-ideal results in recent international tournaments.

The Indian lifters will strive to accumulate the required ranking points for Paris Games qualification by competing in Olympic weight categories. Bindyrani Devi (55kg), focusing on the Asian Games 2023, will also participate but in a non-Olympic weight class.

Under the 2024 Olympic qualification rule, the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 World Cup are compulsory events. Lifters must also participate in three of the following: the 2022 World Championships, the 2023 Continental Championships, the 2023 Grand Prix 1, the 2023 Grand Prix II, and the 2024 Continental Championships. The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) will consider a lifter’s best three performances at these events for final assessment.

Re-reported from the article originally published in My Khel