Mirabai Chanu ended her long wait for an Asian Games medal on Wednesday, winning silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
The medal ended a long-standing gap in Chanu’s decorated career, with the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist having previously finished ninth at Incheon 2014 and fourth at Hangzhou 2023. She missed the 2018 Asian Games because of a back injury.
Chanu’s silver also added another medal to India’s tally on Day 5 of the Asian Games. As of around 10:59 am IST, India had nine medals — one gold, four silver and four bronze, according to the Hindustan Times medal table.
Historic Achievement for Chanu
Chanu has now joined an elite group of Indian weightlifters to have won medals across the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships.
She is only the second Indian weightlifter to achieve the feat, following Karnam Malleshwari, according to the Hindustan Times live update.
The Asian Games medal had remained the one major multi-sport honour missing from Chanu’s collection despite her Olympic silver, World Championship gold and three successive Commonwealth Games gold medals.
India Add More Medals on Day 5
India began Day 5 with medals in shooting and soft tennis before Chanu’s silver.
The women’s skeet team of Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan won bronze, taking India’s shooting medal tally to six at the Games.
Jay Meena also scripted a first for India in soft tennis after advancing to the men’s singles semifinals, assuring the country a maiden Asian Games medal in the discipline.
Manu Bhaker Finishes Fifth
Manu Bhaker missed out on a medal in the women’s 10m air pistol individual final.
Bhaker finished fifth, while Esha Singh and Suruchi Inder Singh failed to qualify for the final. The Indian trio also finished fourth in the team event, behind Vietnam, South Korea and China.
