NAGOYA, September 24 — Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu delivered a stellar performance to secure the silver medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting category at the 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026), ending India's 28-year medal drought in the discipline at the continental games.
Chanu lifted a combined total of 195 kg across the snatch and clean & jerk segments to finish second on the podium behind the gold medallist from China, while Thailand's lifter claimed the bronze medal.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports commended Chanu's perseverance and technical precision following her return from injury. With this victory, India's overall medal tally at the 2026 Asian Games rose to 15 medals (1 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze).
International sports championships and Olympic lifting classifications are core sports GK topics for competitive exams. Candidates should know that Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and was conferred the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award in 2018.