Asian Games 2026: Mirabai Chanu wins silver in 49kg weightlifting
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal at the 2026 Asian Games in the women's 49kg category. This achievement marks her first Asian Games medal, adding to her extensive collection of Olympic and World Championship honors.
Why it matters
It represents a significant milestone for Indian weightlifting, ending a long medal drought at the Asian Games in this discipline.
Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu finally completed her medal collection, winning the elusive Asian Games silver in the women’s 49kg event on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).
Keep track: Asian Games 2026 LIVE | Mirabai Chanu wins silver in women’s 48kg weightlifting
The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist totalled 198kg, lifting 88kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk to claim India’s first Asian Games weightlifting medal since Karnam Malleswari won bronze in 1998.
The Asian Games silver adds to Chanu’s Olympic silver, three World Championship medals, including a gold, multiple Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championships titles and an Asian Championships bronze.
Two-time world champion Ri Song Gum of North Korea, 215kg (94kg+121kg) lived up to expectations, winning the gold with a record-breaking performance to complete a hat-trick of Asian Games titles.
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