• Mirabai Chanu wins silver in the women's 49kg category at the Asian Games 2026.
• This medal ends a 28-year drought for India in weightlifting at the Games.
• Chanu lifted a total of 198kg, with Ri Song-gum from North Korea breaking world records to claim gold.
• India's overall medal tally in the Games has reached 14, including 1 gold and 6 silver medals.
• Chanu's achievement follows her Olympic silver win and multiple Commonwealth accolades.

Mirabai Chanu made history at the Asian Games 2026 by clinching a silver medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting event, marking India's first weightlifting podium finish in 28 years. Chanu lifted a total of 198kg, successfully completing 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk, which secured her a deserving second place. North Korea's Ri Song-gum not only won gold but set three world records, lifting a total of 215kg, thereby breaking the previous records in both disciplines. This remarkable win for Chanu ended an agonizing wait for an Indian weightlifting medal since Karnam Malleswari's silver in 1998, according to IndiaTimes and Al Jazeera.

This achievement culminates Chanu's determined efforts to secure a medal at the Asian Games, having finished fourth in Hangzhou in 2023. Coach Vijay Sharma noted that competing in the Asian Games is significantly more challenging than other events. “We are looking for 205kg overall, and anything above 200kg should assure at least silver,” he remarked prior to the event, which underlined the high stakes for Chanu, according to IndiaTimes and IndiaTimes.

Following Chanu's silver, India's overall medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has now reached 14, including 1 gold and 6 silver medals, reflecting a robust performance across various sports such as shooting and badminton. Alongside Chanu, Naorem Roshibina Devi also secured a silver in wushu, contributing to the successful medal haul for India. These achievements highlight the growing prominence of Indian athletes on the continental stage, according to IndiaTimes and IndiaTimes.

Chanu has previously established her legacy not only with her Olympic medal win but also through her numerous Commonwealth Games titles. Her latest victory at the Asian Games adds another significant milestone to her storied career. Her former coach, S Brojendro Singh, expressed confidence in Chanu's potential for future Olympic success, suggesting that her Asian Games medal will further bolster her capabilities heading into the next Olympics, according to IndiaTimes and SCMP.