Mirabai Chanu Completes Medal Collection With Asian Games Silver

Mirabai Chanu has added another major achievement to her decorated career, winning silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Indian lifted a combined 198kg to secure her maiden Asian Games medal, completing a collection that already includes Olympic, Commonwealth, World and Asian Championship medals.

Chanu was flawless in the snatch, successfully completing all three attempts at 83kg, 85kg and 87kg. She then opened her clean and jerk campaign with 107kg before lifting 111kg in her second attempt to finish with a total of 198kg.

North Korea’s Ri Song Gum took gold with a total lift of 215kg, while Wijayana claimed bronze.

The silver marked a significant milestone for Chanu, who had previously been unable to secure an Asian Games medal. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, an injury forced her to withdraw from her final clean and jerk attempt, leaving her in fourth place.

Three years later, she returned to the continental competition and finally secured the medal that had been missing from her collection.

Chanu has already won Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020, three Commonwealth Games gold medals and one silver, along with medals at the World, Commonwealth and Asian Championships.

With her Asian Games silver, Chanu became the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleshwari to win medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships.

From Manipur Village To Global Podiums

Born on August 8, 1994, in Nongpok Kakching, Manipur, Chanu grew up as the youngest of six siblings in a modest family. According to a Sports Authority of India media release, her father, Saikhom Kriti Meitei, worked in the Public Works Department, while her mother, Saikhom Tombi, ran a small shop to support the family.

Her strength developed through everyday life in her village, where she helped collect firewood and carry water uphill across the hilly terrain.

Chanu initially wanted to become an archer, but her natural strength was spotted at the Khuman Lampak Sports Academy, eventually leading her towards weightlifting.

She began formal training in 2008 and frequently travelled from her village to Imphal. With her family unable to afford daily transportation, she often relied on passing truck drivers for rides to training.

Those early experiences remained an important part of her journey. After her Olympic success, Chanu invited some of the truck drivers who had helped her reach training sessions to join her