Indian weightlifting legend Mirabai Chanu has made history at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, securing a silver medal in the women's 49kg category. Her remarkable performance in Nagoya on Wednesday brings an end to India's nearly three-decade-long drought in weightlifting at the prestigious continental event.
Chanu, 32, demonstrated her prowess by lifting a combined total of 198 kg, comprising 87 kg in the snatch and 111 kg in the clean and jerk. She meticulously executed all three of her snatch attempts, starting at 83 kg and progressing to 85 kg before a successful 87 kg lift. In the clean and jerk, her best effort of 111 kg solidified her second-place finish, placing her behind North Korea's Ri Song-gum, who claimed the gold medal with a total of 215 kg.
Historic Milestone for Indian Weightlifting
This silver medal marks a significant personal achievement for Chanu, being her first podium finish at the Asian Games after previous attempts, including a fourth-place finish at Hangzhou 2023. More broadly, it holds immense national importance, as it is India's first weightlifting medal at the Asian Games since Karnam Malleswari won silver in Bangkok in 1998.
With this latest accolade, Chanu joins an elite group, becoming only the second Indian weightlifter, alongside Malleswari, to have won medals at every major international competition. Her impressive career now includes an Olympic silver medal, multiple World Championship titles, and numerous Commonwealth Games gold medals, in addition to this historic Asian Games silver.
Impact on India's Medal Tally at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Mirabai Chanu's silver medal significantly boosted India's overall medal count on Day 5 of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. The morale boost extends across the Indian contingent, inspiring athletes in disciplines such as shooting and hockey.
As of Day 5, India's total medal tally reached 10, comprising one gold, four silvers, and five bronzes. The sole gold was secured by the women's cricket team. Shooting has been a prominent contributor with seven medals, while mixed martial arts, soft tennis, and now weightlifting have also added to India's podium finishes. In the overall medal standings, India currently ranks eighth, trailing leaders China (60 medals) and host nation Japan (33 medals).