Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver at Asian Games

Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu finally fulfilled her long-awaited Asian Games dream by winning a silver medal in the women’s 49kg category. Chanu lifted a total of 198kg, including 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk, to finish second. Her achievement ended India’s 28-year wait for a medal in Asian Games weightlifting. Karnam Malleswari was the last Indian weightlifter to win an Asian Games medal, in 1998. North Korea’s Ri Song-gum, a two-time world champion, claimed gold with a total lift of 215kg (94kg+121kg), while Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana won bronze with 191kg (88kg+103kg).

Chanu began her snatch campaign with 83kg before successfully lifting 85kg on her second attempt. She then produced her best effort of 87kg on the third attempt and finished the snatch round in third place. In the clean and jerk, she lifted 107kg and then 111kg successfully, choosing not to take a third attempt. The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist displayed confidence throughout the competition and secured a historic Asian Games medal. Meanwhile, India added four more bronze medals on Wednesday, with men’s and women’s shooting teams, the men’s badminton team and soft tennis player Jaya Meena contributing to the tally. In the women’s 53kg category, Gyaneshwari Yadav finished eighth with a total lift of 195kg (87kg+108kg), four kilograms below her 199kg effort at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.