New weight class will help Chanu, says coach

Chanu, 31, finished fourth in 49kg at last year’s Paris Olympics and competed in 48kg at this year’s World Championships, winning a silver medal.

Two of Chanu’s three Worlds medals have come in 48kg (2017, 2025) and her silver in 2022 was won in 49kg. Her 2021 Olympic silver came in 49kg. She shifted to 48kg earlier this year after IWF dropped 49kg from the Olympics. The 49kg has been reinstated only for IWF events like the Worlds.

“She has been competing in 48kg or 49kg for 12-13 years now and we were feeling the need to go to a higher weight. Her maintenance weight is 50kg and reducing even a kilo is a pain. I don’t think she’ll have any trouble moving up to 53. In fact, it will work to her advantage,” Sharma, also the national coach, said.