Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Mirabai Chanu Shifts to 53kg for LA2028 After Paris Setback
Mirabai Chanu, an Indian weightlifter, has been competing in the 49kg category.
The Olympics are changing the weight groups for weightlifting for the 2028 games in Los Angeles.
The lightest group for women will now be 53kg instead of 49kg.
Mirabai needs to get a bit stronger to compete in this new group.
She has said she is confident she can adjust and compete in the 2028 Olympics in this new 53kg class.
This change will allow for more weight classes overall in the Olympics.
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will compete in the 53kg category for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 49kg weight class, where Chanu won silver at Tokyo 2020 and placed fourth at Paris 2024, will no longer be an Olympic category.
The LA 2028 Olympics will feature six weight divisions for women, an increase from five categories at Paris 2024.
Chanu expressed confidence in her ability to adjust to the new 53kg weight class and compete in the 2028 Games.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has confirmed the new weight divisions, including the 53kg minimum for women.
- Who
- Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu
- What
- Will shift to the 53kg weight category for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics due to changes in weight class structures.
- When
- Announced recently, with the changes taking effect for the 2028 LA Olympics.
- Where
- Los Angeles, USA (for the 2028 Olympics)
- Why
- The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has established new weight divisions for LA 2028, with the lowest women's category now starting at 53kg, replacing the 49kg class.
Previous Olympic Weight Classes
New Olympic Weight Classes for LA 2028
Women's Lowest Category
Previous Olympic Weight Classes
The 49kg division was the lowest women's weight category in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
New Olympic Weight Classes for LA 2028
The 53kg division will be the lowest women's weight category in the LA 2028 Olympics.
Number of Categories
Previous Olympic Weight Classes
There were five weight divisions for women in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
New Olympic Weight Classes for LA 2028
There will be six weight divisions for women in the LA 2028 Olympics.
- Athlete
- Mirabai Chanu
- Current Competition Category
- 48-49kg
- New Olympic Category (LA 2028)
- 53kg
- LA 2028 Women's Categories
- 53kg, 61kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, +86kg
- Paris 2024 Women's Categories
- 49kg, 59kg, 71kg, 81kg, +81kg
- Tokyo 2020 Medal
- Silver (49kg)
- Paris 2024 Result
- Fourth (49kg)
- Recent Achievement
- Silver medal at World Weightlifting Championships (199kg total)
