Nagoya: Mirabai Chanu ended one of the few remaining gaps in her decorated career by winning silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Wednesday. The Indian lifter produced an 87kg snatch and a 111kg clean and jerk for a total of 198kg, securing her first Asian Games medal.
The result also carried wider significance for Indian weightlifting. It was the country’s first medal in the sport at the Asian Games since Karnam Malleswari won silver in Bangkok in 1998. Chanu’s performance therefore closed a 28-year wait and added another major championship medal to a career that already includes Olympic, world and Commonwealth honours.
A composed 198kg performance
Chanu entered the competition under unusual pressure. An Asian Games medal had eluded her across previous cycles, and the 49kg category demanded careful body-weight management after she had competed in a different division earlier in the season. She opened strongly in the snatch and finished that segment with 87kg before adding 111kg in the clean and jerk.
The 198kg total was enough for silver. In a discipline decided by small margins and strict technical calls, completing a stable series mattered as much as chasing a headline number. Chanu’s lifts reflected a conservative but effective competition plan: stay in medal position, avoid unnecessary misses and respond to the attempts around her.
Why the medal matters
Chanu has been the most recognisable face of Indian weightlifting for much of the past decade. Yet the Asian Games medal had remained absent from her record. At 32, she arrived in Japan as the oldest athlete in the seven-lifter field, making the achievement a test of durability as well as strength.
The result gives India a high-profile medal in the opening phase of the Games. It follows strong shooting performances, including Elavenil Valarivan’s two silver medals, and underlines the range of sports contributing to India’s tally. The broader Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games run until October 4.
A milestone for Indian weightlifting
India’s 28-year medal drought in Asian Games weightlifting illustrates how difficult the continental field has become. China, North Korea, South Korea and several Southeast Asian nations have deep systems and strong lifters across divisions. A podium finish therefore offers both a sporting result and a benchmark for India’s training programme.
For younger lifters, Chanu’s longevity is part of the lesson. Elite weightlifting involves repeated cycles of rehabilitation, technical rebuilding and controlled weight cuts. Her ability to remain competitive across Olympic and Asian competition shows why long-term athlete support, sports science and careful scheduling matter.
Official reaction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chanu and described the silver as a proud moment for the country. The official statement highlighted her dedication and resilience. Manipur Police, where Chanu serves, also confirmed the 198kg total and the 87kg plus 111kg breakdown.
Those official confirmations are important because live sports reports can change as juries review attempts or correct result sheets. The published figures match the post-event record available on September 23.
What comes next
The medal strengthens India’s early position in the Games, but it should not be treated as the end of the weightlifting story. Coaches will assess Chanu’s successful attempts, body-weight strategy and recovery before the next international cycle. Selection and Olympic-category changes may also shape her future planning.
For now, the result belongs in Indian sporting history: Chanu finally has an Asian Games medal, and India has returned to the weightlifting podium after nearly three decades.
Sources / References
- Prime Minister of India: official congratulatory statement, 23 September 2026
- Manipur Police: confirmed lift breakdown and total
- Times of India / AP: Asian Games result and medal context
The Sports Desk covers cricket, the Asian Games and Indian and international sport. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
