Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu after she won the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Modi praised Chanu’s determination and consistency and said her achievement continues to inspire the country.
Chanu finished with a total lift of 198kg, securing second place in the event. North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won the gold medal with a total of 215kg, while Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana took bronze with 191kg.
The Indian weightlifter produced a strong performance in the snatch. She successfully completed all three attempts, lifting 83kg, 85kg and 87kg. She then lifted 111kg in the clean and jerk to reach her final total of 198kg.
The silver medal is Chanu’s first Asian Games medal. It ends a long wait for the veteran weightlifter, who made her Asian Games debut at Incheon in 2014. She finished ninth in that competition and missed the 2018 Jakarta Games because of injury. At the 2023 Hangzhou Games, she finished fourth after suffering an injury during the competition.
The achievement also ends India’s 28-year wait for a medal in Asian Games weightlifting. India’s previous medal in the sport came in 1998, when Karnam Malleswari won silver in Bangkok. Chanu’s result therefore adds another important chapter to India’s weightlifting history.
Chanu already has an impressive international record. She won an Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020 and has also won a World Championship title and three Commonwealth Games gold medals. She entered the Aichi-Nagoya Games after winning another Commonwealth Games gold earlier this year.
Born in Manipur, Chanu began her weightlifting journey at a young age and has spent years competing at the highest level. Her Asian Games silver completes one of the major medals that had been missing from her career record.
For India, Chanu’s medal was another important addition to the country’s campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Her performance also highlighted the continued presence of Indian weightlifting on the international stage.
Chanu’s silver is therefore significant both personally and nationally. After several years of near misses and injury setbacks at the Asian Games, she has finally secured a place on the podium and added an Asian Games medal to her already decorated career.