Mirabai Chanu wins Asian Games silver, ends India's 28-year wait
Synopsis
Mirabai Chanu just completed the set — Olympic silver, three Commonwealth golds, and now an Asian Games silver — becoming the first Indian weightlifter to reach the continental podium since Karnam Malleshwari in 1998. That 28-year drought ended not with relief but with a dominant 198 kg total in Nisshin, the same country where she made history at Tokyo 2020.
Key Takeaways
Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women's 49 kg category at the Asian Games 2026 in Nisshin, Japan on 23 September 2026 .
Her total lift of 198 kg (87 kg snatch + 111 kg clean and jerk) placed her behind gold medallist North Korea's Ri Song-gum (210 kg).
The medal ended India's 28-year wait for a weightlifting podium at the Asian Games, since Karnam Malleshwari's silver at Bangkok 1998 .
It is Chanu's maiden Asian Games podium , completing a collection that includes Olympic silver and three Commonwealth Games gold medals .
Usha , present in Japan, congratulated Chanu in a post on X , calling it 'a very special and proud moment.'
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu clinched a silver medal in the women's 49 kg category at the Asian Games 2026 in Nisshin, Japan, on Wednesday, 23 September, ending India's 28-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the continental event. The achievement prompted Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P.T. Usha — who was present in Japan to cheer the Indian contingent — to publicly celebrate the milestone on social media.
The Lift That Made History
The 32-year-old Chanu posted a total of 198 kg, registering 87 kg in snatch and 111 kg in clean and jerk. North Korea's Ri Song-gum claimed gold with a dominant total of 210 kg, while Indonesia's Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri took bronze at 191 kg.
The silver is Chanu's maiden Asian Games podium finish, completing a remarkable medal collection across all three major multi-sport competitions. She now holds an Olympic silver (Tokyo 2020, held 2021), three Commonwealth Games gold medals, and this Asian Games silver — a full sweep of major continental and global stages.
Breaking a 28-Year Drought
The last time an Indian weightlifter stood on the Asian Games podium was at Bangkok 1998, when Karnam Malleshwari took silver in the 63 kg category. That near three-decade gap underscores just how significant Chanu's medal in Nisshin truly is for Indian weightlifting.
Notably, Chanu's path to this moment was far from smooth. She finished fourth at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 after a thigh injury disrupted her clean and jerk attempts, and had missed the 2018 edition entirely due to injury. Her persistence through repeated physical setbacks makes the silver all the more compelling.
What Usha Said
IOA president P.T. Usha, who shared a photograph alongside Chanu holding her silver medal, paid tribute to the weightlifter's character. 'A very special and proud moment for me to see Mirabai Chanu win silver for India. Mirabai, I have seen your determination, resilience and immense commitment to the sport, and this medal is another reflection of the champion you are,' Usha wrote on X. She added: 'Your journey continues to inspire millions of young athletes across India. Congratulations and well done!'
Japan: A Stage That Keeps Delivering
There is a striking symmetry to this win: Chanu's Asian Games silver came in Japan — the same country where she famously won Olympic silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games. That earlier triumph, delayed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, put her on India's sporting map. Wednesday's performance in Nisshin reinforces her status as one of the most decorated Indian weightlifters of her generation.
With the medal secured, attention will now turn to Chanu's preparation for future competitions and whether this momentum can carry Indian weightlifting to fresh heights on the world stage.
Point of View
Including a painful fourth place in Hangzhou and two editions marred by injury. What mainstream coverage underplays is the structural point: India has produced a generational weightlifter who has peaked across three different multi-sport formats, yet the sport's grassroots infrastructure remains thin. The 28-year gap between Malleshwari and Chanu is not an anomaly; it is a systemic gap. One champion cannot substitute for a pipeline, and the real question for Indian weightlifting now is whether this medal inspires investment in the next generation — or remains a one-woman story.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Mirabai Chanu win at the Asian Games 2026?
Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal in the women's 49 kg weightlifting category at the Asian Games 2026 in Nisshin, Japan, with a total lift of 198 kg. It was her maiden Asian Games podium finish.
Why is Chanu's Asian Games silver considered historic?
Chanu's medal ended India's 28-year drought in weightlifting at the Asian Games. The last Indian weightlifter to win an Asian Games medal was Karnam Malleshwari, who took silver in the 63 kg category at Bangkok 1998.
Who won gold and bronze in the women's 49 kg event?
North Korea's Ri Song-gum won gold with a total of 210 kg, while Indonesia's Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri claimed bronze with 191 kg. Chanu's 198 kg placed her between the two.
What other major medals has Mirabai Chanu won?
Chanu previously won an Olympic silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021) and three Commonwealth Games gold medals. Her Asian Games silver in Nisshin completes her podium collection across all three major multi-sport events.
What did IOA president P.T. Usha say about Chanu's win?
IOA president P.T. Usha, who was in Japan to support Indian athletes, wrote on X: 'A very special and proud moment for me to see Mirabai Chanu win silver for India.' She lauded Chanu's determination, resilience, and commitment, and said the medal reflects 'the champion you are.'
