Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Mirabai Chanu Seeks Elusive First Asian Games Weightlifting Medal
Mirabai Chanu is a famous Indian weightlifter who wants to win an Asian Games medal.
She has already won an Olympic silver medal, a world title and Commonwealth Games gold medals.
However, she has never stood on the Asian Games podium.
She will compete in the women’s 49kg event in Nagoya on Wednesday.
Fewer Chinese competitors are taking part, which may give her a better chance.
North Korea’s Ri Song Gum is still the main rival to beat.
Chanu has trained especially hard and hopes to lift 90kg in the snatch.
This could possibly be her last Asian Games appearance.
Mirabai Chanu will compete in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category seeking her first Asian Games medal.
The absence of Chinese lifters has improved Chanu’s medal prospects.
North Korea’s reigning world and Asian Games champion Ri Song Gum is considered Chanu’s biggest threat.
Chanu previously finished ninth in 2014, missed 2018 because of injury, and placed fourth in 2023 after a hip injury.
Chanu has trained specifically for the event and is targeting a 90kg snatch.
- Who
- Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and competitors including North Korea’s Ri Song Gum.
- What
- Chanu is attempting to win her first Asian Games medal in the women’s 49kg event.
- When
- Wednesday, as reported on September 23.
- Where
- Nagoya, at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
- Why
- An Asian Games medal is the only major medal mentioned as missing from Chanu’s collection, and she has trained specifically to win one.
Chanu’s Medal Opportunity
Competitive Challenge
Path to the podium
Chanu’s Medal Opportunity
The absence of Chinese lifters gives Chanu a better chance of ending her Asian Games medal drought.
Competitive Challenge
Ri Song Gum remains the reigning world and Asian Games champion and is viewed as the biggest threat to Chanu’s gold-medal hopes.
Performance outlook
Chanu’s Medal Opportunity
Chanu has trained specifically for the event and is aiming to achieve a 90kg snatch.
Competitive Challenge
She must manage the physical demands of competition and could be making her final Asian Games appearance.
- Athlete
- Mirabai Chanu
- Event
- Women’s 49kg weightlifting
- Main rival
- Ri Song Gum of North Korea
- Target lift
- A 90kg snatch
- Previous best Asian Games result
- Fourth place in Hangzhou in 2023
- Training focus
- Specific preparation with chief coach Vijay Sharma
- Key advantage
- The absence of Chinese lifters
