Mirabai Chanu Secures Silver at Asian Games in Women’s 49kg
Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu won her maiden Asian Games silver medal in the women's 49kg category, completing her major international medal cabinet.
- Development: Mirabai Chanu Secures Silver at Asian Games in Women’s 49kg
- Core Takeaway: Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu won her maiden Asian Games silver medal in the women's 49kg category, completing her major international medal cabinet.
- Context: Primary reporting aggregated across independent newsrooms and verified against CurrentDeck standards.
Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu said she was “very happy and proud” after securing the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Speaking to ANI after her podium finish, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist said the medal fulfilled a long-standing dream and completed her collection of major international honours.
Mirabai Chanu Overcomes Pressure to Claim Historic Silver
Chanu entered Wednesday's competition carrying the pressure of competing after a demanding run of competitions. Speaking to ANI after her event, she reflected on the achievement: I am very happy. I have been waiting for this day for many years. Finally, I have won a silver medal. I am very happy and proud of myself. My dream has come true.
She detailed the intense preparation required to compete at the continental level shortly after major events. There was a lot of pressure. The Asian Games are very important for me. It is very difficult for us to play back-to-back competitions. After the Commonwealth Games, I had only one month. This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to win at least one medal in the Asian Games. I prepared very well and won this medal,
she added.
The silver medal also ended a long wait at the Asian Games, following a fourth-place finish at Hangzhou 2023 where an injury forced her to withdraw from her final clean and jerk attempt.
Detailed Lift Breakdown and Podium Standings
Chanu secured the silver with a combined lift of 198kg, successfully completing all three of her snatch attempts at 83kg, 85kg and 87kg. In the clean and jerk, she opened with 107 kg before successfully lifting 111 kg in her second attempt to finish with a total of 198kg.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Athlete | Mirabai Chanu |
| Event | Women's 49kg Weightlifting |
| Date | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 |
| Venue | Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre |
| Snatch Lifts | 83kg, 85kg, 87kg |
| Clean and Jerk Lifts | 107kg, 111kg |
| Total Lift | 198kg |
| Gold Medallist | Ri Song Gum (215kg) |
| Bronze Medallist | Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana (191kg) |
North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won the gold with a total of 215kg, while Wijayana claimed the bronze with a total of 191kg.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chanu in a post on 'X', writing: A special Silver for @mirabai_chanu ! Congratulations to her on winning the medal in the Women’s 49 kg Weightlifting event. Her determination and consistency continue to inspire the nation. India is proud of her. Best wishes for her future endeavours: PM @narendramodi
Legacy and Milestone for Indian Weightlifting
With her maiden Asian Games medal, Chanu became the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleshwari to win medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships. Born in Nongpok Kakching, Manipur, Chanu began formal weightlifting training in 2008 and went on to establish herself as one of India’s leading weightlifters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Mirabai Chanu's total lift at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
Mirabai Chanu secured silver with a combined lift of 198kg, consisting of 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk.
Who won the gold medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting event?
North Korea's Ri Song Gum won the gold medal with a total of 215kg.
Which Indian weightlifter achieved the same multi-championship medal feat previously?
Karnam Malleshwari is the other Indian weightlifter to win medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships.
The silver medal added to India’s medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as the country continued its campaign across multiple disciplines.
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