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Mirabai Chanu Wins Long-Sought Asian Games Weightlifting Silver
Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in weightlifting at the Asian Games.
She had waited many years for this achievement.
Earlier Asian Games were difficult because of injuries and performances that did not go as planned.
Chanu said the medal was especially important because weightlifting is very competitive in Asia.
She believes this medal is just as valuable as an Olympic medal.
During the competition, she successfully completed all three of her snatch lifts.
Chanu had worked hard to stay within the 49kg weight limit.
The 49kg category will not be part of her Olympic plans, so she must prepare for the 53kg category.
For now, she said she would enjoy finally earning the medal she had been chasing.
Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on September 23, 2026.
The medal completed a long-standing goal after injuries and setbacks prevented her from winning an Asian Games medal in 2014, 2018 and 2023.
Chanu said she considers an Asian Games weightlifting medal equal to an Olympic medal because of the strength of Asian competitors.
She successfully lifted 83kg, 85kg and 87kg in all three snatch attempts.
Chanu now plans to transition from the 49kg category toward the 53kg division ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics.
- Who
- Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, also identified as Mirabai Chanu Saikhom.
- What
- She won a silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting final at the Asian Games.
- Where
- Nagoya, Japan.
- When
- September 23, 2026.
- Why
- Winning an Asian Games medal had been a long-standing personal goal, after earlier setbacks and injuries.
Chanu’s View
Conventional Olympic View
Relative prestige and difficulty
Chanu’s View
Chanu said an Asian Games weightlifting medal is equal to an Olympic medal and may be harder to win because Asian countries such as North Korea and China have strong weightlifting programs.
Conventional Olympic View
The article notes that the Olympics are generally considered the pinnacle of sport, with fewer competitors in the weightlifting field than at the Asian Games.
Key facts
- Athlete
- Mirabai Chanu
- Medal
- Silver
- Event
- Women’s 49kg weightlifting final
- Location
- Nagoya, Japan
- Snatch attempts
- 83kg, 85kg and 87kg, all successful
- Next weight category
- 53kg
- Olympic qualification
- Qualification begins in December, according to Chanu
Quotes
Mirabai Chanu
Indian Olympic medalist and Asian Games weightlifter
“We don’t have to gain weight to compete in 53. We have to get the muscle ready first. If I suddenly gain weight, my performance could go down and I could also lose strength.”
indianexpress.com
“I believe that medals in Asian Games are equal to medals in Olympics. In the Olympics, it is less, and at the Asian Games, I feel it is more difficult.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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