Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Asian Games on September 23. The competition was held at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center in Aichi, Japan. Chanu lifted a combined total of 198 kg, with 87 kg in the snatch and 111 kg in the clean and jerk.

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The medal is an important moment in Chanu’s Asian Games career as it is her first medal at the continental multi-sport event. Her performance also ended India’s 28-year wait for an Asian Games weightlifting medal.

Mirabai Chanu Takes Silver in 49 kg

Mirabai Chanu competed in the women’s 49 kg category, one of the lighter weight divisions in international weightlifting. The event consists of two different lifts — the snatch and the clean and jerk.

In the snatch, Chanu successfully lifted 87 kg. She then produced a 111 kg lift in the clean and jerk. Her combined total of 198 kg placed her second in the competition and secured the silver medal for India.

The result added another major international medal to Chanu’s long career. She has previously represented India at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

North Korea’s Ri Song Gum Wins Gold

North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won the gold medal in the women’s 49 kg category. She finished with an impressive total of 215 kg, putting her ahead of Chanu in the final standings.

Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana took the bronze medal after recording a total lift of 191 kg.

The medal positions were therefore decided by the combined weight successfully lifted across the two disciplines. Chanu’s 198 kg total placed her between the North Korean gold medallist and the Indonesian bronze medallist.

How Weightlifting Results Are Decided

Weightlifting competitions at major international events are based on two lifts. The first is the snatch, in which the athlete lifts the barbell from the floor to above the head in one continuous movement.

The second is the clean and jerk. In this lift, the athlete first brings the barbell to the shoulders and then lifts it above the head. The best successful attempt in each lift is added together to produce the athlete’s final total.

The athlete with the highest combined total wins the gold medal. This makes both parts of the competition important because a strong performance in only one lift cannot guarantee a medal.

First Asian Games Medal for Chanu

The Mirabai Chanu silver medal has a special place in her career because she had not previously won an Asian Games medal.

At the 2018 Asian Games, Chanu could not compete because of an injury. At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, she finished fourth in the women’s 49 kg category after dealing with a thigh injury.

Her silver medal in Aichi-Nagoya therefore marks a significant return to the Asian Games podium. It also adds another major continental achievement to a career that already includes Olympic and Commonwealth Games success.

From Olympic Success to Asian Games Podium

Chanu is one of India’s most recognised weightlifters and has competed at the highest level of international weightlifting for several years.

Her Olympic career brought her major attention in India. She won a silver medal in the women’s 49 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She also has a strong record at the Commonwealth Games, where she has won medals for India.

Her Asian Games silver now adds another major multi-sport event medal to that record.

The result also shows the continued importance of the 49 kg category in Chanu’s international career. She has competed in this division for much of her recent career and has faced some of the world’s strongest weightlifters.

India’s Long Wait for an Asian Games Weightlifting Medal Ends

Chanu’s silver also has significance for Indian weightlifting. Her medal ended a 28-year wait for India to win a weightlifting medal at the Asian Games.

Indian weightlifters have a long history at the Asian Games, but medals in the sport have been difficult to secure in recent editions. Chanu’s performance in Japan brought India back onto the weightlifting podium at the continental event.

The result also adds to India’s medal campaign at the 2026 Asian Games, where athletes from different sports are competing across multiple venues in the Aichi-Nagoya region.

Competition in the Women’s 49 kg Category

The women’s 49 kg event featured strong competition, with athletes needing to perform consistently across both lifts.

Chanu finished with a total of 198 kg, while Ri Song Gum recorded 215 kg for gold. Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana finished with 191 kg for bronze.

The difference between the medal positions shows how every successful attempt can affect the final standings. In weightlifting, athletes have a limited number of attempts in each lift, making accuracy, strength and strategy important throughout the competition.

A Major Moment at Aichi-Nagoya 2026

The 2026 Asian Games are being held across the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan. Weightlifting is among the sports attracting attention because of the participation of leading athletes from across Asia.

For India, Mirabai Chanu became one of the key names in the weightlifting competition. Her silver medal at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center gave India a podium finish in the sport after a long gap.

Her 198 kg total came from an 87 kg snatch and a 111 kg clean and jerk. The performance secured the silver medal and marked Chanu’s first Asian Games medal.