Nagoya, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Mirabai Chanu finally fulfilled her long-held Asian Games dream on Wednesday, winning a historic silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category and completing her medal collection across the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
“I have finally won a medal. I am very happy that I have a silver. This is what I have been waiting for for many years. This has been my dream since I started weightlifting. Today, I have finally got it,” Mirabai told IANS after finishing on the podium.
The 32-year-old lifted a combined 198kg, with 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk, to secure second place. North Korea’s Ri Song-gum claimed gold with a total of 210kg, while Indonesia’s Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri took bronze with 191kg.
The medal ended Mirabai’s prolonged wait for an Asian Games podium finish. She missed the 2018 edition because of injury and came close to a medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, where she finished fourth after a thigh injury hampered her clean and jerk attempts.
Recalling the emotions of finally achieving her goal, Mirabai said the moment brought back memories of her previous career milestones.
“Yes, I was very emotional in Glasgow. They were happy tears. Today also I felt like crying. I had tears in my eyes out of happiness, but I didn’t cry. I was very happy. I got what I wanted,” she said.
Mirabai added that winning an Asian Games medal had been a dream since she took up weightlifting.
“Today, my dream has come true. I am very happy with this medal. I have been dreaming of winning a medal in Asian Games for many years. Today, my dream has come true. I am very proud of myself. I have won a silver medal for the country in weightlifting after many years,” she said.
The silver also ended a 28-year wait for India in Asian Games weightlifting. Mirabai became the country’s first medallist in the discipline at the Asian Games since Karnam Malleswari won silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games.
Already an Olympic silver medallist, world champion and multiple-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Mirabai also used the occasion to appeal to the government for an honour that she said remains missing from her achievements.
“I would like to request the government to give me the Arjuna Award. I will be very happy. The Arjuna Award is the biggest award. I don’t have it. I want it. I will be very happy if the government considers my achievement and awards it to me,” she said.
For Mirabai, the silver marked the culmination of years of perseverance through injuries and disappointments, finally delivering the Asian Games medal she had pursued since the beginning of her weightlifting career.
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