Former World Champion, Mirabai Chanu will spearhead India's challenge at the Asian Weightlifting Championship, 2019 that begins at Ningbo, China today. Chanu will be competing in the 49kg category from 48kg following the International Weightlifting Federations's rejig of weight categories. She has made a strong comeback after having suffered a lower-back injury that kept her out of action for nearly nine months. She will have potent competitors.
Among male weightlifters, India's hopes will be on Jeremy Lalrinnunga, the gold medallist at the Youth Olympic Games. Commonwealth Games champion, Sathish Sivalingam has pulled out owing to performance troubles. Other Indians participating include Vikas Thakur, the silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games, and Ajay Singh, the bronze medallist at the Asian Youth Championship and the Junior Weightlifting Championship. Ajay had finished fifth in the 77kg category at the Asian Games in 2018.
Nine days of competition will be played out at Ningbo Youngor Gymnasium from today onwards. Medals will be won across 20 categories, 10 for men and 10 for women.
