A Long-Awaited Asian Games Medal
Mirabai Chanu secured her first Asian Games medal on Wednesday, claiming silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center in Aichi and Nagoya. The 30-year-old Indian star lifted a total of 198kg. She recorded 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk. North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won the gold medal with a total lift of 215kg. Indonesia’s Wijayana Luluk Diana Tri took the bronze medal.
Previous Asian Games Heartbreak
Before this victory, Mirabai had come close to an Asian Games medal but had never reached the podium. At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, she finished fourth. An injury prevented her from completing her final clean and jerk attempt, leaving her just outside the medals. This silver in Nagoya marks a significant career milestone for her, filling a gap in an otherwise decorated resume.
Olympic and World Championship Success
Mirabai Chanu is one of India’s most accomplished weightlifters. She won a silver medal in the women’s 49kg event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Earlier that same year, on April 17, 2021, she set a world record in the clean and jerk with a lift of 119kg at the Asian Weightlifting Championships. She held that record until September 5, 2023. She also won gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships and has two silver medals from the World Championships.
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Commonwealth Games Dominance
At the Commonwealth Games, Mirabai Chanu has been nearly unbeatable. She has won three gold medals and one silver. In the 49kg weight class, she set Commonwealth Games records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall categories at the 2018 edition. She then improved those marks at the 2022 and 2026 Commonwealth Games. In 2026, she won gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the 48kg category.
National Honours and Recognition
Mirabai Chanu has received some of India’s highest honours. In 2018, the Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour, and the Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour. These awards recognised her contributions to Indian sport and her success on the international stage.
Complete Medal Record
Mirabai’s medal record includes silver at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, silver at the 2025 World Championships in Førde, gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, silver at the 2022 World Championships in Bogotá, silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, bronze at the 2020 Asian Championships in Tashkent, gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, gold at the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, and silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
What This Means for Indian Weightlifting
Mirabai’s silver at the Asian Games adds another major achievement to her career. It also gives India an important medal in a sport where competition is fierce, especially against athletes from North Korea and other strong weightlifting nations. Her performance in Nagoya shows that she remains among the best in her weight class. For Indian weightlifting, her continued success is a source of pride and inspiration. At 30, she has proven that she can still compete at the highest level and deliver on the biggest stages.