Mirabai Chanu claims Asian Games silver in women’s 49kg at Nagoya

Mirabai Chanu, 32, won the silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday, lifting a total of 198kg at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center.

Chanu’s podium finish was her first medal at the Asian Games and followed a recent three-peat of Commonwealth Games gold medals. She had previously competed at the Asian Games in 2014 and 2022 without reaching the podium.

In the contest Chanu recorded a best snatch of 87kg to place third in that phase and produced a best clean and jerk of 111kg to register a 198kg total. She finished second to North Korea’s Ri Song Gum, who took gold with a total lift of 210kg, a new World Record.

Speaking to the media after the Aichi-Nagoya Games performance, Chanu said, "I am very happy. I have been waiting for this day for many years. Today my dream has come true." She added, "There was pressure in my mind, but I believed that I had to bring home a medal."

Chanu also told IANS, "Finally, I have won a medal. I am very happy that I have a silver," and said, "This is what I have been waiting for many years. This has been my dream since I started weightlifting. Today, I have finally got it!"

Her silver ends a 28-year drought for India in weightlifting at the Asian Games; the last Indian to win an Asiad weightlifting medal was Karnam Malleswari in 1998. Malleswari previously won silver medals in the 1994 and 1998 editions.

The Aichi-Nagoya silver completes Chanu’s collection of medals from the Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games; she has won one Asian Games medal, a silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the Aichi-Nagoya Games 2026.