India’s talented weightlifter, Bindyarani Devi, showcased her remarkable skills once again, securing a bronze medal at the IWF World Cup 2024 in Phuket, Thailand, held on April 2, 2024. Bindyarani, who previously won a silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, demonstrated her strength, courage, and dedication on the international stage. Alongside her, Mirabai Chanu represented India as the only other competitor at the event.
The IWF World Cup 2024 is being organized by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) from 31 March to 11 April 2024 in Phuket, Thailand. Both male and female weightlifters are participating in the World Cup. 25-year-old Bindyarani Devi, competing in the women’s 55 kg category, won the bronze medal with a lift of 196 kg. This included 83 kg snatch and 113 kg (clean and jerk). This was less than her effort of 203 kg at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which had won her the silver medal.
Bindyarani’s hard work and dedication have taken her to the heights of respect in the World Cup. Despite many challenges, she never lost the courage to accomplish her dreams. Kang Hyeon Gyeong of North Korea won the gold medal with a lift of 234 kg and Mihaela Cambei of Romania won the silver medal.
Mirabi Chanu Indian weightlifter qualified for the Paris Summer Olympics 2024 despite finishing 12th in the 49 kg category. She is the only Indian weightlifter to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The IWF World Cup in Phuket was the last qualifying event in weightlifting for the Paris Olympics. Currently, Bindyarani Devi is ranked 29th in the women’s 59kg Olympic qualification rankings. The top 10 ranked lifters in the Olympic qualification rankings from each weight category are eligible for the Paris Olympic quota 2024.
Mirabai Chanu is currently ranked second in the Olympic qualification rankings for 49 kg. The Olympic qualification ranking is based on the best overall results that athletes manage to achieve in the qualifying competitions. Mirabai Chanu is considered one of the great players of Indian weightlifting. She has won many medals for India at international level. She won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, USA, and three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018 and 2022).
