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

Mirabai Chanu claimed the silver medal in the women’s 49kg Group A weightlifting final at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan on September 23, 2026, totaling 198kg. She recorded a snatch of 88kg and a clean and jerk of 111kg, while North Korea’s Ri Song Gum took gold with 215kg (94kg+121kg).

Chanu’s silver ended a long drought for India in Asian Games weightlifting: it was the country’s first podium finish in the sport since Karnam Malleswari won bronze in 1998. The result also added to Chanu’s distinguished résumé, which already included an Olympic silver, three World Championship medals including a gold, multiple Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championships titles and an Asian Championships bronze.

In the snatch portion Chanu opened at 83kg and then completed lifts of 85kg and 87kg, leaving her third after the first half of the competition. The series of successful attempts put her in contention heading into the clean and jerk.

Chanu produced a best clean and jerk of 111kg to secure the silver medal, a result described in reports as ending “two previous near-misses” for her at the Asian Games. The 111kg lift was decisive in moving her onto the podium.

Ri Song Gum, a two-time world champion, registered a 94kg snatch and a 121kg clean and jerk for a 215kg total, a record-breaking performance that completed a hat-trick of Asian Games titles and, according to reports, lived up to expectations.

The Asian Games silver is described as the elusive continental medal Chanu had not previously won, effectively completing her medal collection and joining her Olympic silver, World Championship successes, Commonwealth honours and an Asian Championships bronze in her career achievements.