Mirabai Chanu's Silver Medal Triumph at Asian Games 2026

A Proud Moment for Mirabai Chanu's Family

Imphal (Manipur) [India], September 23: Mirabai Chanu's mother, Saikhom Tombi Leima, expressed her joy following her daughter's silver medal achievement in the women's 49 kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. She conveyed her pride in Mirabai's accomplishment while also expressing hopes for a future gold medal.

In an interview, Tombi Leima shared her happiness regarding the silver medal, although she had wished for gold. She advised Mirabai to maintain her composure, pray, stay focused, and give her best effort, emphasizing her hopes for her daughter to continue striving for gold in the future.

"I feel very happy. I had hoped and thought she would win the gold, but her winning the silver medal still brings us immense joy. If she had won the gold, we would have been even happier, but I am still very proud of her. Yesterday evening, we spoke. We couldn’t talk this morning. Yesterday evening we had a long conversation. She told me that her bout was scheduled early, so we wouldn’t be able to speak in the morning. I told her to remember God, stay calm, play with full determination, and give her all to win the gold. That’s what we talked about yesterday. We couldn’t talk this morning. I told her to focus, pray, and give her best effort. In the future, too, she will continue to work hard to win gold," she said.

Chanu achieved her first Asian Games medal with a total lift of 198 kg, marking a significant moment in her career. The Olympic medalist successfully completed all three of her snatch attempts, lifting 83 kg, 85 kg, and 87 kg.

In the clean and jerk category, she began with a lift of 107 kg and then successfully lifted 111 kg in her second attempt, concluding with a total of 198 kg.

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

This silver medal adds another remarkable achievement to Chanu's illustrious career. As a silver medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and a three-time Commonwealth Games champion, she has become the second Indian weightlifter, after Karnam Malleshwari, to earn medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Championships.

Mirabai's brother also expressed the family's hopes for a gold medal but acknowledged the significance of her silver medal win at the Asian Games. He extended gratitude to sports enthusiasts in India and Manipur, highlighting that the silver medal is a noteworthy accomplishment.

"This time in the Asian Games, my sister couldn’t get the gold, but she has won silver. So, to all sports lovers, all sports enthusiasts in India and Manipur, I would like to extend my blessings; I want to say thank you very much. We were hoping for the gold medal; we had thought she would get it, but she couldn’t win it—no problem. She has won a silver medal; that is also a very good thing," he stated.

Chanu narrowly missed an Asian Games podium finish at Hangzhou in 2023 due to an injury that forced her to withdraw from her final clean and jerk attempt, leaving her in fourth place.

The 32-year-old athlete entered the Aichi-Nagoya Games after clinching gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, further enhancing her impressive medal collection.

Hailing from Nongpok Kakching, Manipur, Chanu began her formal weightlifting training in 2008. She has risen from modest beginnings to become one of India's most celebrated athletes, inspiring a new generation of weightlifters.