India’s medal streak at the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 extended to the third day as Ajith Narayana won the bronze in the men’s 71kg category in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Thursday.
The Indian weightlifter bagged the overall bronze with a total lift of 314kg (140kg snatch and 174 kg clean and jerk). He also snagged a bronze in the C&J section.
At the Asian Championships, separate medals are awarded for each of the two weightlifting sections – snatch and clean and jerk – in addition to the ones for overall lift.
Ajith successfully cleared 140kg in his opening snatch attempt before failing his next two attempts at 144kg. Fifth after the snatch section, the Indian lifter needed a good showing in clean and jerk to climb up to the podium places.
Under pressure, Ajith delivered as he successfully lifted 165kg, 169kg and 174kg in sequence to claim his spot on the podium. He edged Uzbekistan’s Matrasulov Khusinboy by just one kilogram in the overall standings.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Juri Won won the gold medal with a total lift of 351kg (154kg+197kg), while the People’s Republic of China’s Chen Jian claimed silver with 335kg (155kg+180kg).
Meanwhile, Nirupama Devi Seram finished fourth in the women’s 63kg event with a total lift of 215kg – 92kg in snatch and 123kg in clean and jerk.
Commonwealth Championships medal winner Nirupama opened with a successful 92kg lift in the snatch but failed to clear 95kg and 96kg in her next two attempts, finishing fifth in the discipline.
In the clean and jerk, she successfully lifted 123kg in her opening attempt but failed at 126kg and 128kg with her final two attempts. She placed fourth in the clean and jerk standings as well.
North Korea’s Ri Suk won the gold medal with a total lift of 254kg (111kg+143kg), while China’s Yang Liuyue claimed silver with 251kg (112kg+139kg). Another Chinese lifter, Fang Lin, secured bronze after lifting 235kg (105kg+130kg).
In the men’s 79kg division, India’s Ajaya Babu Valluri and Bedabrat Bharali both struck out.
Komal Kohar, competing in place of injured Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu, had opened India’s account with a couple of bronze medals in the women’s 48kg event in the overall and clean and jerk sections.
On Wednesday, Gyaneshwari Yadav won the overall bronze medal in the women’s 53kg event while bagging the silver in snatch.
The Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 is being held in India for only the second time. New Delhi hosted the event previously in 1982.
A 16-member Indian team is competing at the continental championships in Gandhinagar, which concludes on May 17.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/asian-weightlifting-championships-2026-india-day-3-report
