Maibam Gulubi, a powerlifter from Manipur, has won a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championships held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from September 21 to 27. Representing India in the junior women’s 57-kg category, Gulubi competed at the continental-level championship organised under the Asian Powerlifting Federation.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh congratulated the young athlete on her achievement, saying her performance had brought pride to the state and the country. The victory highlights the achievements of Indian athletes competing on international platforms and brings attention to the growing participation of young women in strength sports.
Gulubi’s International Achievement
Gulubi represented India in the junior women’s 57-kg category at the championship, which brought together athletes competing in classic and equipped bench press events. Her gold-medal finish marked a significant achievement for the Manipur powerlifter, who was listed among the Indian women’s team participating in the competition.
The event was held at the Eser Diamond Hotel and Convention Centre in Silivri, Istanbul, with athletes competing across different age groups, weight categories and divisions. The championship was organised by the Asian Powerlifting Federation in association with the Turkish Powerlifting Federation and the International Powerlifting Federation.
Congratulating Gulubi, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh shared a message on Facebook acknowledging her performance at the continental championship. “Heartiest congratulations to Maibam Gulubi on winning the Gold Medal at the 2026 Asian Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championship held in Istanbul, Türkiye,” he wrote.
According to a report by Northeast Today, the Chief Minister said her performance had brought “immense pride” to Manipur and the nation. He also extended his best wishes for her continued success and expressed hope that she would achieve greater heights and inspire young athletes. The congratulatory message placed the spotlight on Gulubi’s achievement and its significance for the state’s sporting community.
Understanding The Championship
The Asian Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championships are part of the continental powerlifting calendar, bringing together athletes from across Asia to compete in bench press events. The 2026 edition was scheduled from September 21 to 27 in Istanbul, Türkiye, with the competition featuring both classic and equipped categories. In classic bench press, athletes compete without the specialised supportive bench press shirt used in the equipped discipline.
The equipped category allows approved supportive equipment, which can assist athletes in lifting heavier weights. Competitors are grouped according to their age and bodyweight categories, allowing athletes to compete against others in comparable divisions. Gulubi’s participation in the junior women’s 57-kg category placed her among young athletes representing their respective countries at the Asian level. The Indian team nomination list also included other women athletes across different weight categories, reflecting the country’s participation in the championship.
Gulubi’s gold-medal achievement adds to the visibility of athletes from Manipur competing in international sporting events. The state has a strong presence in several sports, and performances such as hers bring attention to disciplines that receive less mainstream coverage than more widely followed competitions. However, the available reports do not specify the exact weight she lifted, her margin of victory, or whether the medal was awarded in the classic or equipped division.
Further details about her performance and competition results would help provide a fuller picture of her achievement. Her success nevertheless represents a notable moment for Indian powerlifting and offers encouragement to young athletes pursuing competitive sport.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Maibam Gulubi’s gold-medal victory is a reminder that sporting achievements deserve recognition regardless of the discipline or the scale of public attention they receive. For young women in particular, participation in strength sports can challenge narrow ideas about physical ability and create opportunities to pursue ambitions on their own terms.
Recognising athletes from regions such as Manipur also helps bring greater visibility to the diverse sporting talent across India. Beyond medals and podium finishes, the journey of an athlete depends on access to training, proper facilities, coaching and sustained encouragement from families, communities and institutions. Celebrating Gulubi’s achievement should go hand in hand with creating more opportunities for aspiring athletes to participate and excel.
As she continues her sporting journey, her accomplishment can serve as a source of inspiration for young people looking to enter competitive sport. How can India do more to support emerging athletes, particularly young women, in lesser-known sporting disciplines such as powerlifting?
Heartiest congratulations to Maibam Gulubi on winning the Gold Medal at the 2026 Asian Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championship held in Istanbul, Türkiye.
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) September 28, 2026
Her remarkable achievement has brought immense pride to Manipur and the nation. May she continue to reach greater… pic.twitter.com/KFCNLi2Ps7
