Rijiju welcomes Mirabai Chanu home from Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on 29 September 2026 publicly welcomed weightlifter Mirabai Chanu back to India after she won a medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, also congratulating her coach Vijay Sharma.
Key Takeaways
Mirabai Chanu returned to India with a medal from the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly welcomed her home on 29 September 2026 .
Rijiju also specifically congratulated coach Vijay Sharma , a rare ministerial acknowledgement of an athlete's support staff.
Chanu previously made history with a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics , the first Olympic weightlifting medal by an Indian woman.
India has participated in the Asian Games since the inaugural 1951 edition, with weightlifting remaining a key individual discipline for the country.
A champion's return deserves a champion's welcome. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju greeted star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, after she arrived home carrying a medal from the 2026 Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — extending his congratulations to her long-time coach Vijay Sharma as well.
Mirabai's medal and what it means for Indian weightlifting
Rijiju posted on X: 'Warm welcome to Mirabai Chanu who has returned with a Medal from Asian Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. I congratulate her coach Vijay ji also.' The message, tagged #Cheer4Bharat, was one of the first high-profile official acknowledgements of Chanu's latest international haul.
Chanu is no stranger to landmark moments. She made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting — a silver that rewrote the country's expectations for the sport. Every podium finish she adds to that record deepens her status as the face of Indian weightlifting.
Vijay Sharma — the coach behind the lifts
Rijiju's specific mention of Vijay Sharma is notable. Sharma has been Chanu's guiding hand through her most consequential competitive years, shaping the technical and physical programme that has kept her at the top of Asian and global competition. Public recognition of coaching staff by senior ministers remains relatively rare — making the shout-out a meaningful gesture toward the support structure behind elite Indian sport.
Aichi-Nagoya and India's Asian Games tradition
The 2026 Asian Games, hosted across Aichi and Nagoya in Japan, mark one of Asia's premier quadrennial sporting showcases. India has competed at the Asian Games since the inaugural 1951 edition, and each cycle the country's medal haul in individual disciplines such as weightlifting draws particular attention. Chanu's medal adds to India's tally at a Games where the nation is watching every result closely.
India's sporting ministry has made a consistent practice of amplifying such achievements — senior ministers publicly welcoming athletes home signals both personal recognition and institutional support for the country's competitive pipeline.
Chanu came. She lifted. She brought home a medal. The question now is where this latest piece of hardware sits in a career that has already redrawn the ceiling for Indian weightlifting — and whether the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be the stage where she goes for gold.
Point of View
Building a narrative of institutional backing for Indian sport. For Mirabai Chanu, a medal at Aichi-Nagoya extends a remarkable international record that began with her Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver. The explicit acknowledgement of coach Vijay Sharma signals a subtle but meaningful shift toward recognising the support ecosystem — not just the athlete — as central to India's sporting ambitions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, such visibility keeps Chanu's profile — and the weightlifting programme — firmly in the public conversation.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Mirabai Chanu win at the 2026 Asian Games?
Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that Mirabai Chanu returned with a medal from the 2026 Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, though the specific colour of the medal was not detailed in his post.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, one of Asia's premier quadrennial multi-sport competitions.
Who is Mirabai Chanu's coach?
Vijay Sharma is Mirabai Chanu's long-time coach, guiding her training through her most significant international competitions including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
What is Mirabai Chanu's biggest achievement before the 2026 Asian Games?
Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting.
Why did Kiren Rijiju post about Mirabai Chanu's return?
As Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister and a senior government figure, Rijiju publicly welcomed Chanu home and congratulated her and her coach, in line with the government's practice of recognising Indian athletes' international achievements.
