198kg and a long wait over: Mirabai Chanu finally reaches the Asian Games podium

Missing Medal

For years, one major medal had remained absent from Mirabai Chanu’s collection. That changed in the women’s 49kg event as the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist finally reached the Asian Games podium, ending two previous near-misses with a silver.

198kg Total

Chanu finished with a 198kg total, building her medal-winning performance through a steady snatch sequence before producing 111kg in the clean and jerk. Her final lift pushed her into the silver-medal position and sealed a long-awaited Asian Games breakthrough.

Historic Return

Chanu’s silver also ended a long wait for Indian weightlifting at the Asian Games. India had last won a weightlifting medal at the continental event when Karnam Malleswari claimed bronze in 1998, making Chanu’s podium finish particularly significant.

Korean Record

North Korea’s Ri Song Gum dominated the competition with a record-breaking 215kg total, combining 94kg in the snatch with 121kg in the clean and jerk. The performance secured gold and completed her hat-trick of Asian Games titles.

Medal Collection

The Asian Games silver now sits alongside Chanu’s Olympic silver, three World Championship medals including a gold, multiple Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championships titles, and an Asian Championships bronze, filling another major gap in her medal record.