Mirabai Chanu to lead Indian weightlifting challenge at Asian Games

World Champion Saikhom Mirabai Chanu will lead India women’s charge at the upcoming Asian Games. The 23-year-old will be competing in 48kg.

World Champion Saikhom Mirabai Chanu will spearhead the Indian weightlifting challenge in the upcoming Asian Games as the national federation named a five-member team on Friday.

Mirabai Chanu will be joined by Rakhi Halder in the Asian Games weightlifting squad along. (AP)

Mirabai, who won gold in the world championships last year and Commonwealth Games in April, will compete in women’s 48kg while Rakhi Halder has been named as the second women and will take part in 63kg.

The three men are CWG gold medallist Sathish Sivalingam and Ajay Singh (both 77kg) and CWG bronze medalist Vikas Thakur (94kg).

In 2014 Asian Games, India had sent six weightlifters and returned without a medal. Mirabai had finished ninth in her category. This time though she is the favourite to win gold.

Squad:

Women: 48 kg Saikhom Mirabai Chanu; 63 kg Rakhi Halder

Men: 77 kg Sathish Kumar Sivalingam; Ajay Singh 94 kg: Vikas Thakur.