23 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu is competing in the women’s 49kg final at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, seeking her first Asian Games medal.
The event is especially significant for the Olympic silver medallist because the Asian Games remain the major multi-sport competition where she has yet to finish on the podium.
A Long-Awaited Asian Games Medal
Chanu made her Asian Games debut at Incheon 2014, where she finished ninth.
She missed the 2018 Jakarta Games because of a back injury. At Hangzhou 2023, she finished fourth after a thigh and hip injury disrupted her campaign.
Her return to the continental stage in Aichi-Nagoya therefore represents another opportunity to complete her medal collection.
Strong Form Entering the Games
Chanu arrives in Japan after winning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow in July.
She produced a Games-record total of 190kg in the women’s 48kg event, including 85kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk.
Her recent performances have strengthened expectations around her Asian Games campaign.
Competition in the 49kg Category
Chanu is competing in the 49kg category at the Asian Games.
Reports ahead of the event identified North Korea’s Ri Song Gum, a two-time defending Asian Games champion and world-record holder, among the major names in the field.
India’s Weightlifting Hopes
Chanu is one of the leading figures in India’s weightlifting contingent at Aichi-Nagoya.
India is seeking to build on its strong performance at Hangzhou 2023, while Chanu is pursuing a personal milestone that has remained out of reach through several Asian Games appearances.
Career Record
Chanu is a Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist, a 2017 world champion and a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Her achievements have made her one of India’s most decorated weightlifters, but an Asian Games medal remains absent from her major-event record.
Final Stage Begins
The women’s 49kg final is scheduled in Aichi-Nagoya, with the competition bringing together leading lifters from across Asia.
For Chanu, the event represents another chance to overcome the setbacks that have affected her previous Asian Games campaigns.