Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Wednesday, September 23. The medal ended her long wait for an Asian Games podium finish.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh congratulated Mirabai Chanu and described her as a “pride of Manipur”. He said her strength, determination and perseverance had brought pride to Manipur and India.
Mirabai Chanu secures historic Asian Games silver
Mirabai Chanu finished second in the 49kg final with a combined lift of 198kg. She successfully lifted 87kg in the snatch and followed it with 111kg in the clean and jerk.
North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won gold with a total of 215kg, while Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana took bronze with 191kg. Chanu’s silver marked her first medal at the Asian Games.
The result also brought an important milestone for Indian weightlifting. India had waited since the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games for another medal in the sport. Chanu’s performance therefore returned the country to the Asian Games weightlifting podium after 28 years.
Mirabai Chanu completes major medal collection
The Asian Games silver fills the only major gap in Mirabai Chanu’s international medal collection. The Manipuri weightlifter has already won an Olympic silver, World Championship medals and multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals.
She had also come close to an Asian Games medal before. At the 2023 Hangzhou Games, Chanu finished fourth after an injury affected her final clean and jerk attempt. Her latest performance in Nagoya allowed her to finally add an Asian Games medal to her record.
Chanu had previously competed at the 2014 Asian Games, where she finished ninth. She missed the 2018 edition because of injury before returning to the continental event in Hangzhou.
Mirabai Chanu draws praise from Manipur CM
Following the medal, Yumnam Khemchand Singh publicly congratulated Mirabai Chanu. In his message, he called her the “pride of Manipur” and highlighted the determination behind her latest achievement.
The chief minister also said her performance could inspire young athletes to aim higher. His message came after the Manipur government had honoured Chanu in August for her gold-medal performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
At that August felicitation programme in Imphal, Khemchand had also announced a special recruitment policy for outstanding sportspersons. The policy expanded eligibility for government jobs to include silver and bronze medallists, subject to merit and the stated conditions.
A new milestone for Indian weightlifting
Mirabai Chanu’s Asian Games silver carries significance beyond her personal record. It gives Indian weightlifting its first Asian Games medal since Karnam Malleswari’s podium finish in 1998.
Chanu’s performance also places her among a select group of Indian weightlifters who have collected medals across major international competitions, including the Olympics, Asian Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
Moreover, the result follows a successful 2026 season for Chanu. She had won Commonwealth Games gold earlier this year before turning her attention to the Asian Games and the missing medal from her career record.
Mirabai Chanu inspires Manipur and India
For Manipur, Mirabai Chanu’s silver adds another major achievement to a career that has already brought international recognition to the state. Her Asian Games medal also gives young athletes another example of sustained success at the highest level.
Meanwhile, the medal gives India a long-awaited return to the Asian Games weightlifting podium. Chanu’s 198kg total secured silver in Nagoya and completed a significant chapter in her decorated career.
As celebrations continue in Manipur and across India, the Asian Games silver stands as another landmark in Mirabai Chanu’s career and a notable moment for Indian weightlifting.
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