Indian weightlifting superstar Saikhom Mirabai Chanu achieved another major career milestone by clinching the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the Asian Games. The performance delivered India’s first weightlifting medal at the continental event since 1998 and filled the last remaining gap in Chanu's collection of major international honours.
A Performance Built on Precision
Competing in the women’s 49kg division, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist showed composure throughout the event:
- Snatch: Opened with an 83kg attempt, progressing smoothly to 87kg to enter the second phase in third position.
- Clean & Jerk: Started strong at 107kg before topping out at 111kg on her second attempt.
- Total Lift: Finished with an impressive combined total of 198kg to claim second overall.
North Korea's Ri Song-gum took gold with a world-record performance of 215kg, while Indonesia's Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana secured the bronze with a total lift of 191kg.
Redemption and Historical Impact
This triumph carries personal significance for the Manipur-born athlete. After missing out on the podium at previous editions—including a fourth-place finish in Hangzhou following an agonizing hip injury—Chanu's patience and recovery paid off on the big stage.
By securing silver, Chanu has now won medals across all major competitive arenas:
- Olympic Games: Silver Medal
- World Championships: Gold and Silver Medals
- Commonwealth Games: Multiple Gold Medals
- Asian Games: Silver Medal
Her victory ends a 28-year dry spell for Indian weightlifting at the Asian Games, dating back to Karnam Malleswari's bronze medal performance in 1998.
