Asian Games 2026: Mirabai Chanu Wins Historic Silver

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 24 September 2026

Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu finally ended her long wait for an Asian Games medal, securing a historic silver in the women’s 49kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, September 23. Her podium finish also ended India’s 28-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the continental event.

Key Highlights:

• Mirabai Chanu wins silver with a 198kg total in the women’s 49kg category
• India ends a 28-year wait for an Asian Games weightlifting medal
• Mirabai Chanu completes her medal collection across the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games

Competing at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center, the 32-year-old produced a combined lift of 198kg, comprising 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk. She completed all three of her snatch attempts, progressing from 83kg to 85kg and then 87kg. In the clean and jerk, she opened with 107kg before successfully lifting 111kg. She opted against a third attempt after securing the silver.

North Korea’s Ri Song-gum claimed gold, while Indonesia’s Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri took bronze. Ri finished with 210kg, while Wijayana recorded 191kg.

For Mirabai, the medal carries particular significance after several unsuccessful Asian Games campaigns. She made her debut at the 2014 edition in Incheon, finishing ninth, while injury kept her out of the 2018 Jakarta Games. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, she narrowly missed the podium after finishing fourth, with a thigh injury affecting her clean and jerk attempts.

The silver in Nagoya finally delivered the Asian Games medal that had remained absent from Mirabai’s decorated career. She has previously won Olympic silver, a world championship title and multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals.

The achievement also made Mirabai only the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win medals across the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships and Asian Games. Karnam was the last Indian weightlifter to reach the Asian Games podium, winning silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games.

Reflecting on the milestone, Mirabai said she had dreamed of winning an Asian Games medal since she began her weightlifting journey. She described the moment as emotional and said she was proud to have won silver for India after years of waiting.

Mirabai’s achievement drew congratulations from President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several sports personalities and political leaders. Modi highlighted her determination and consistency, while Murmu noted that her medal ended India’s long wait for an Asian Games weightlifting podium finish.

The historic silver adds another major chapter to Mirabai’s career and completes her medal collection across the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.