Mirabai Chanu Celebrates Historic Silver Medal Win at Asian Games 2026

Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu has made history by winning a silver medal in the women's 49 kg category at the Asian Games 2026. This achievement marks the fulfillment of a long-standing dream for Chanu, who expressed her joy and pride after years of hard work and dedication. Competing under pressure, she successfully lifted a total of 198 kg, securing her place on the podium. With this medal, Chanu joins the ranks of elite Indian weightlifters, further solidifying her legacy in the sport. Discover more about her inspiring journey and future plans in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 24, 2026, 00:00 IST

Mirabai Chanu's Triumph at the Asian Games

In Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 23, Indian weightlifting sensation Mirabai Chanu expressed her immense joy and pride after clinching a silver medal in the women's 49 kg category at the Asian Games 2026.

Following her podium finish, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist shared that this achievement fulfilled a long-held aspiration.

"I am overjoyed. This day has been a long time coming. Finally, I have secured a silver medal. I feel proud of my accomplishment. My dream has been realized," Mirabai stated.

Chanu recognized the intense pressure of competing at the Asian Games, especially after a series of challenging competitions, but emphasized her focused preparation aimed at winning a medal.

"The pressure was significant. The Asian Games hold great importance for me. Competing in back-to-back events is quite challenging. After the Commonwealth Games, I had just a month to prepare. Winning at least one medal in the Asian Games was my goal, and I trained hard to achieve this," she explained.

When asked about her plans to celebrate this milestone, Chanu expressed her desire to simply relish the moment after years of anticipation.

"I’m not sure where to begin. This day has been a long time in the making. I am thrilled and proud of my achievement. I want to celebrate this occasion," she remarked.

Chanu secured her silver with a total lift of 198 kg, successfully completing all three of her snatch attempts at 83 kg, 85 kg, and 87 kg.

In the clean and jerk, she started with a lift of 107 kg and then succeeded with 111 kg on her second attempt, culminating in a total of 198 kg.

North Korea's Ri Song Gum took home the gold with a total of 215 kg, while Wijayana earned the bronze.

This medal marked a significant moment for Chanu, who narrowly missed out on a podium finish at Hangzhou 2023 due to an injury that prevented her from completing her final clean and jerk attempt, leaving her in fourth place.

The 32-year-old athlete entered the Aichi-Nagoya Games following her gold medal victory at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She is a three-time Commonwealth Games champion and won an Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020.

With this achievement, Chanu became the second Indian weightlifter, after Karnam Malleshwari, to earn medals across the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Championships.

Hailing from Nongpok Kakching in Manipur, Chanu began her formal weightlifting journey in 2008 and has since emerged as one of India's top weightlifters.

As of now, India has secured 11 medals, placing the nation 13th in the overall standings, while China leads with 77 medals.