Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 23: India’s star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won her maiden Asian Games medal, claiming silver in the women’s 49kg category on Wednesday and ending the country’s 28-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the continental event.

Chanu lifted a total of 198kg, comprising 87kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and jerk, to secure the silver. India’s last weightlifting medal at the Asian Games came in 1998, when legendary lifter Karnam Malleswari won bronze.

North Korea’s Ri Song-gum clinched gold with a record-breaking total of 215kg, including 94kg in snatch and 121kg in clean and jerk. She completed a hat-trick of Asian Games titles. Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana took bronze with a total lift of 191kg.

Chanu has now become the second Indian weightlifter after Malleswari to win medals across all major international weightlifting competitions, including the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships.

The 32-year-old began her snatch campaign with 83kg before successfully lifting 85kg and 87kg in her subsequent attempts, finishing the stage in third position. She then produced a best lift of 111kg in the clean and jerk to secure the silver.

Chanu had previously come close to winning an Asian Games medal, finishing fourth in the 49kg category at Hangzhou in 2023. Fitness issues had affected her performance at the time.

Earlier this year, she won her third Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow. Her latest achievement adds an Asian Games silver to an illustrious career that includes an Olympic silver, three World Championship medals, including a gold, multiple Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championships titles, and an Asian Championships bronze.

India’s medal tally at the 20th Asian Games has now risen to 11, comprising one gold, five silver and five bronze medals.