Nagoya, Sep 2026 : Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu finally realised her long-cherished Asian Games dream on Wednesday, winning a historic silver medal in the women’s 49kg category and completing her collection of medals from the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
The 32-year-old produced a total lift of 198kg, combining an 87kg effort in the snatch with 111kg in the clean and jerk, to finish second behind North Korea’s Ri Song-gum. Ri claimed the gold with a total of 210kg, while Indonesia’s Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri secured bronze with 191kg.
Speaking to IANS after her podium finish, an emotional Chanu said the medal was the result of a dream she had carried since beginning her weightlifting career.
“Finally, I have won a medal. I am very happy that I have a silver. This is what I have been waiting for for many years. This has been my dream since I started weightlifting. Today, I have finally got it!” she said.
The medal brought an end to Chanu’s long and frustrating wait for an Asian Games podium finish. She missed the 2018 Jakarta edition because of injury, while her campaign at the 2023 Hangzhou Games ended in disappointment after she finished fourth.
At Hangzhou, a thigh injury affected her clean and jerk attempts during the final and prevented her from securing a medal. Three years later, she returned to the Asian Games determined to achieve the milestone that had eluded her throughout her career.
Chanu also spoke about the emotions surrounding her achievement, comparing them to the feelings she experienced after another major triumph in her career.
“Yes, I was very emotional in Glasgow. They were happy tears. Today also I felt like crying. I had tears in my eyes out of happiness, but I didn’t cry,” she said.
The silver medal also made Chanu the first Indian Asian Games weightlifting medallist since Karnam Malleswari won silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games, ending a 28-year wait for the country in the discipline.
Already an Olympic silver medallist, world champion and multiple-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Chanu said the Asian Games medal was particularly special because it completed a major gap in her decorated career.
“I got what I wanted. Today, my dream has come true. I am very happy with this medal. I have been dreaming of winning a medal in Asian Games for many years,” she said, adding that she was proud to win a silver medal for India after such a long wait.
Chanu also used the occasion to make a request to the government regarding another distinction she hopes to receive. She appealed for consideration for the Arjuna Award, saying it remained the major sporting honour missing from her collection.
“I would like to request the government to give me the Arjuna award. I will be very happy. The Arjuna award is the biggest award. I don’t have it. I want it,” she said.
Her silver in Nagoya represents the culmination of years of perseverance through injuries, setbacks and near misses, while finally fulfilling the Asian Games ambition she had carried since the beginning of her weightlifting journey.
