The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Monday announced revised weight categories for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, removing the 49kg division — the category in which Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu competes.
Star Indian weightlifter Chanu had won her Olympic medal in the 49kg category.
The IWF, in a statement, announced 12 weight categories – six each for men and women.
The lowest category for women at the 2028 LA Games is now 53kg following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to increase the total number of weightlifting events to 12.
“Following the encouraging decision taken by the IOC to enlarge the weightlifting programme at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 – where 12 events (six men, six women) will be contested – the IWF selected the bodyweight categories for the upcoming Olympic rendezvous,” it said in a statement.
Chief national coach Vijay Sharma feels that bulking up to 53kg will work in Chanu’s favour but said the Manipuri will continue in her old weight class till the Asian Games next year.
“This (removal of 49kg) is a good thing for Mirabai because cutting down her weight to 48kg was a taxing process,” Sharma.
The updated weights for the men’s events now include 65kg, 75kg, 85kg, 95kg, 110kg and +110kg, while for the women it’s 53kg, 61kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg and +86kg.
The new categories will come into effect from August 1, 2026.
This isn’t the first time that Mirabai will have to make an adjustment after IWF changed the entry-level weight category for the world championships from 49kg to 48kg.
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Though the 49kg class has now been reinstated for IWF events such as the World Championships, it will not feature in the Olympics.
Chanu had won the gold at the Commonwealth Championships and a silver medal at the World Championships in the 48kg this year.
