After 28 years, Mirabai Chanu finally puts India back on Asian Games weightlifting podium

Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya. Chanu, a Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, achieved a total lift of 198kg to claim the podium spot. The gold medal was awarded to North Korea’s Ri Song-gum, who set a new weightlifting record during the competition.

This achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian athletics, as it is the country’s first Asian Games weightlifting medal in 28 years. The last Indian weightlifter to reach the Asian Games podium was Karnam Malleswari, who won silver in 1998.