Head coach Vijay unperturbed by Mirabai Chanu's 55kg entry rejection for CWG, says it won't affect India medal haul

Mirabai Chanu's 55 kg entry for the upcoming Commonwealth Games by the International Weightlifting Federation will not affect India's medal chances in the Birmingham event, head coach Vijay Sharma said on Thursday. The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) had wanted to field Chanu in the 55kg weight division with Jhilli Dalabehera and S Bindyarani Devi competing in the 49kg and 59kg respectively, while Poppy Hazarika was to compete in the 64kg division at the CWG, to be held from July 28 to August 8. The move was aimed at maximising India's medal haul in the CWG.

But the entries were rejected based on a new rule that states that the top-ranked lifter in a category will qualify for the CWG. But, if s/he withdraws, the next best lifter will not get the berth, as was the case before. The 27-year-old Chanu will now compete in the 49kg category.

Chanu had qualified for the CWG in 49kg, in which she won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year, owing to her top rank, as well as the 55kg weight class, for which she competed in a qualifier. "They rejected the entry by saying a lifter can participate in that category where they have performed their best,” Sharma told PTI from St Louis, USA, where he is overseeing Chanu's training. Chanu has only once competed in the 55kg weight class before --- at the Singapore Weightlifting International last month, which was a qualifying event for the CWG.

Bindyarani is the top ranked Indian in this division. “We were hoping that she (Chanu) qualifies in both categories. But the rule has changed.