She hails from the state of Manipur. Sanjita took up the sport of weightlifting in 2006 in Manipur. She considers pioneering weightlifter and fellow Manipuri, Kunjarani Devi, her hero.
She started on 72 kg and then straightaway lifted 77 kg, not dropping any weight in snatch.
2014 Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu won a gold in women"s 48kg weightlifting to open India"s medal account on the opening day of the competition in the 20th Commonwealth Games. Sanjita won with a total lift of 173 kg (77+96). Sanjita"s total of 173 kg missed the Games record (held by the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Augustina Nkem Nwaokolo) by two kilograms. Sanjita"s 77 kg effort in snatch however equalled Nwaokolo"s Commonwealth Games record.
