Nagoya: Mirabai Chanu ended India’s 28-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Asian Games by winning silver in the women’s 49kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Games on Wednesday. Her historic achievement drew congratulations from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised the Indian weightlifter’s determination and consistency.
Chanu produced a combined lift of 198kg, with 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk, to finish second at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center. North Korea’s Ri Song Gum won the gold with 215kg, while Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana claimed bronze with 191kg.
The silver is Chanu’s first Asian Games medal and India’s first weightlifting medal at the continental Games since Karnam Malleswari’s silver at the 1998 Bangkok edition. Chanu had previously finished ninth at the 2014 Asian Games, missed the 2018 Games because of injury and came fourth at Hangzhou in 2023.
President Murmu congratulates Mirabai Chanu
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Chanu after her landmark performance, highlighting the significance of India’s return to the Asian Games weightlifting podium after 28 years.
The President said Chanu’s achievements at major international competitions, including the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, had made her journey an inspiration for younger athletes.
Chanu’s latest medal adds another major achievement to a career that already includes an Olympic silver medal, a World Championships title and multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals. Her Asian Games silver completes one of the few major gaps in her international medal collection.
PM Modi hails Chanu’s determination
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Chanu on her silver medal.
“A special Silver for @mirabai_chanu! Congratulations to her on winning the medal in the Women’s 49 kg Weightlifting event. Her determination and consistency continue to inspire the nation. India is proud of her. Best wishes for her future endeavours,” Modi said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister also congratulated India’s women’s skeet team of Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon after their bronze-medal performance. He praised their focus, precision and teamwork.
The women’s skeet team had been scheduled to compete in the individual and team events on September 23, with Dhaliwal, Chauhan and Dhillon representing India.
Mirabai Chanu’s long wait ends
The Asian Games medal had remained one of the major achievements missing from Chanu’s decorated career.
At Hangzhou in 2023, Chanu finished fourth in the 49kg category after competing despite a thigh injury. Her latest performance in Nagoya finally gave her a podium finish at the continental event.
Chanu began the competition with an 83kg snatch before successfully lifting 85kg and 87kg on her subsequent attempts. She then registered 111kg in the clean and jerk to finish with a total of 198kg.
Ri Song Gum dominated the competition, lifting 94kg in the snatch and 121kg in the clean and jerk for a 215kg total. Her performance also included world-record lifts and gave North Korea a gold medal in the women’s 49kg event.
Other Indian medal achievements
The celebrations extended beyond weightlifting, with India’s shooters also adding to the country’s medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Modi congratulated Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon for their bronze in the women’s skeet team event. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also congratulated the Indian medal winners, according to the syndicated report.
Yogi also praised Jay Meena for his performance in soft tennis after he became the first Indian to win a medal in the discipline at the Asian Games, according to the report.
For Chanu, however, the silver in Nagoya marks the culmination of a long pursuit. After two previous Asian Games appearances without a podium finish, she has finally added an Asian Games medal to an already distinguished international career.