Manipur’s star weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, today, securing her first Asian Games medal and completing a major gap in her decorated international career.
Representing India, Chanu produced a combined lift of 198kg. She successfully lifted 83kg, 85kg and 87kg in her three snatch attempts before clearing 107kg and 111kg in her first two clean and jerk attempts. Her total of 198kg earned her the silver medal.
North Korea’s Ri Song Gum claimed the gold with a total lift of 215kg, while Wijayana won the bronze.
The medal adds another major achievement to Chanu’s career, which already includes Olympic silver, three Commonwealth Games gold medals and medals at the World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships. She had, however, been unable to secure an Asian Games medal until today.
Her previous Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou in 2023 ended without a medal after an injury forced her to withdraw from her final clean and jerk attempt, leaving her fourth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chanu on the achievement, describing the medal as a “special Silver” and praising her determination and consistency.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also congratulated Chanu, saying her achievement had brought pride to Manipur and India. In a social media post, he praised her strength, determination and perseverance and said her accomplishment would inspire young athletes.
The Asian Games silver also places Chanu in an elite group of Indian weightlifters who have won medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships. She becomes the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to achieve the feat.
Born on August 8, 1994, at Nongpok Kakching in Manipur, Chanu began her sporting journey with an interest in archery before her physical strength drew attention at the Khuman Lampak Sports Academy in Imphal. She began formal weightlifting training in 2008, travelling from her village to Imphal for practice.
She later entered the national training system and trained in Bengaluru and at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. Coach Vijay Sharma has remained a key figure in her senior career.
Chanu won her first World Championship title in 2017 and followed it with Commonwealth Games gold medals in 2018 and 2022. She also won gold at the 2021 Asian Championships and silver at the World Championships in 2022 and 2025.
Her Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020 established her among India’s leading weightlifters. She finished fourth at the Paris Olympics in 2024 before returning to the international podium at the 2025 World Championships.
With today’s Asian Games silver, Chanu has now added the one major international medal that had been missing from her collection.
“Proud of you, Mirabai,” the Chief Minister said in his message.
