'Have unfinished business at Asian Games, medal overdue': Mirabai Chanu

Mirabai Chanu remains the undisputed powerhouse of Indian weightlifting. The Padma Shri awardee opens up about her “unfinished business” at the Asian Games and the mental discipline required to stay at the top. Excerpts...Will you be repeating your Tokyo feat at the Los Angeles Olympics?

I’m looking forward to my fourth Olympics in Los Angeles and that in itself is very special. Every Olympics teaches you something new and I carry those lessons forward. My focus is not on repeating Tokyo, but on improving myself and performing better than before. India has a lot of young talent coming up and I would be very happy to see more weightlifters doing well at the Olympic level. It is important for the sport that new athletes rise and take things forward.

How are your preparations going for Los Angeles 2028?Paris Olympics was a tough experience. Missing a medal by just one kilogram is never easy, but that is a motivating factor for me now. At this level, even the smallest improvement can make a big difference. For Los Angeles, my focus is on discipline and consistency. I am working closely with my coaches on technique, strength and recovery. I am also paying a lot of attention on mental preparation because staying calm under pressure is crucial.

The goal is to be in my best shape and give my 100 per cent on competition day.What are your expectations from the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games?Both competitions are important for me and for the country. The Commonwealth Games have always been special and I would love to perform well there again. At the same time, the Asian Games is very important personally because I still have unfinished business there. The competition level is very high, which makes it even more challenging and exciting.My focus will be on preparing for a podium finish.