India's star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won the silver medal in the Asian Games 2026. She ended her long wait for a medal in the Asiad by finishing second in the women's 49 kg category on Wednesday (23 September). Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mirabai finished on the podium for the first time in the Asian Games by lifting a total of 198 kg with a lift of 87 kg in snatch and 111 kg in clean and jerk.
Mirabai started with 83 kg in the snatch and then lifted 85 kg and 87 kg in her next two attempts to finish third in the first leg of the competition. After this, he won the medal in clean and jerk by lifting a weight of 111 kg. She had participated in the Asian Games twice before but could not win a medal.
North Korea's two-time world champion Ri Song Gum performed as per expectations and won the gold medal by lifting a total weight of 215 kg (94 and 121) and completed a hat-trick of titles in the Asian Games. Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana of Indonesia won the bronze by lifting a total weight of 191 kg. He lifted 88 kg in snatch and 103 kg in clean and jerk.
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28 year drought ends
Mirabai had won medals in Olympics and World Championships but remained empty handed in the Asian Games. By winning his first medal in the Asiad, he has also ended the drought that had been going on for 28 years. Actually, this is India's first medal in weightlifting in the Asian Games after Karnam Malleswari won the bronze medal in 1998.
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Mirabai of Manipur has won three medals including a silver medal in the Olympics and one gold in the World Championship. Apart from this, she has been a gold medalist in Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championships. He also has bronze in the Asian Championship.