New Delhi: Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu finally secured her maiden Asian Games medal after winning silver in the women’s 49kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist produced a combined lift of 198kg to finish second behind North Korea’s Ri Song Gum, who dominated the competition with a total of 215kg. Wijayana took the bronze medal.
Chanu’s silver adds another major achievement to an already decorated international career. She has now become the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win medals across the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and Asian and Commonwealth Championships.
Mirabai Chanu Records 198kg Total
Chanu was flawless in the snatch section, successfully completing all three attempts.
She began with 83kg before lifting 85kg and then 87kg on her final attempt to finish the first section strongly.
In the clean and jerk, Chanu opened with 107kg and then successfully lifted 111kg on her second attempt. Her combined total of 198kg was enough to secure the silver medal.
The podium finish also ended a long wait for Chanu at the Asian Games.
From Hangzhou Setback to Asian Games Silver
Chanu had narrowly missed a medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games after an injury forced her to withdraw from her final clean and jerk attempt. She eventually finished fourth.
Her return to the Asian Games podium came after another successful spell in international competition, including gold at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.
The silver medal further strengthens Chanu’s status among India’s most accomplished weightlifters.
India Add More Medals in Shooting and Soft Tennis
India also enjoyed a productive day across several disciplines at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
The country won two bronze medals in shooting. Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan finished third in the women’s skeet team event with 331 points, earning India its first Asian Games medal in the event.
The men’s skeet team of Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmed Khan and Bhavtegh Singh Gill also secured bronze after scoring 346 points. Naruka additionally advanced to the individual final.
In soft tennis, Jay Meena assured India of a medal by reaching the men’s singles semi-finals. He later lost to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka but was guaranteed a bronze medal as a semi-finalist.
Manu Bhaker reached the women’s 10m air pistol final and finished fifth, while Suruchi Inder Singh and Esha Singh did not make the medal round.
India Make Progress Across Multiple Sports
India’s kabaddi teams continued their campaign with wins over Iran and Bangladesh in the group stage.
In boxing, Ankush advanced to the men’s 80kg round of 16 after defeating Bahrain’s Hamsa Vogel 5-0.
Abhay Singh also opened his squash campaign with a commanding 11-1, 11-0, 11-2 victory over Thailand’s Arkaradet Arkarahirunya.
Indian athletes progressed in rowing and canoe sprint as well. Balraj Panwar reached the men’s single sculls final, while Satnam Singh and Salman Khan advanced in the men’s double sculls.
In canoe sprint, Megha Pradeep progressed to the women’s canoe single 200m semi-final, while Indian paddlers also advanced in the men’s and women’s kayak double 500m events.
India’s table tennis players continued their run in mixed doubles, with Manush Shah-Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade-Harmeet Desai registering victories.
In fencing, swimming and sepaktakraw, several Indian competitors exited at different stages, while the rowing contingent also secured places in Final A and Final B events.
With Mirabai Chanu’s silver adding another major medal to India’s tally, the Indian contingent continued its campaign across multiple disciplines at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
