Mirabai Chanu wins her first medal at the Asian Games, a silver in the 49 kg category

Mirabai Chanu (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: India’s star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won her first medal at the Asian Games on Wednesday, winning the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center in Aichi and Nagoya.Mirabai lifted a total of 198 kg in the event. She lifted 87 kg in the shot put, then cleared 111 kg in the shot put to finish for the silver medal.North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won the gold medal with a total lift of 215 kg. Indonesian Wijayana Luluk Diana Tri won the bronze medal.Mirabai narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, finishing fourth after injury prevented her from completing her final attempt with a clean sweep.The 30-year-old won a silver medal in the women’s 49 kg event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. On 17 April 2021, she set a world record in the throw in the 49 kg category with a lift of 119 kg (262 lb) at the Asian Weightlifting Championships. She held the record until September 5, 2023.

Image credit: Asian Games

Mirabai was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor, and the Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sports honor, by the Government of India in 2018.She won gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships and also won two silver medals at the World Championships.

Mirabai Chan’s Medal Record:

YearCompetitionPlaceMedalCategory2026Asian GamesAichi–NagoyaSilver49kg2026Commonwealth GamesGlasgowGold48kg2025World Championship FørdeSilver48kg2022Commonwealth GamesBirminghamGold49kg2022World Championship Bogotá Silver 49kg2020Olympic Games Tokyo Silver 49kg2020Asian Championships TashkentBronze49kg2018Commonwealth GamesGold CoastGold48kg2017World Championships AnaheimGold48kg2014Commonwealth Games GlasgowSilver48kgAt the Commonwealth Games, Mirabai won three gold medals and a silver. In the 49kg category, she set Commonwealth Games records in the catch, snatch and snatch and overall at the 2018 edition, before bettering these marks at the 2022 and 2026 Commonwealth Games.