For over a decade, Mirabai Chanu has been the face of Indian weightlifting.
Her impressive medal haul includes silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, three World Championship medals and as many Commonwealth Games podium finishes. Yet an Asian Games medal continues to elude her.
Mirabai first competed in the continental showpiece at the age of 19, finishing ninth at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. She was later forced to withdraw from the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta due to a back injury that disrupted her preparations.
The closest she came to a medal was at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where a hip injury dashed her hopes after coming agonisingly close to sealing a podium finish with a fourth spot. The setback had also sidelined her for nearly five months.
The 31-year-old Indian weightlifter made an impressive recovery and represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she once again came fourth. Since then, she has been focused on finally ending her Asian Games medal drought.
“The Asian Games is very important personally because I still have unfinished business there,” Mirabai said at a press conference following the opening ceremony of the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur on Wednesday.
“The competition level (at the Asian Games) is very high, which makes it even more challenging and exciting.”
One of the key challenges for Mirabai has been adjusting her weight category. She has largely competed in the 49kg division but must now shift between categories following a revision in weight classes by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
As a result, she will compete in the 48kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, before moving back to 49kg for another attempt at an Asian Games medal in Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
“I will keep my weight within 48kg till the Commonwealth Games, but within two months of it, there are Asian Games, which is in 49 kg, so I will have to switch back,” noted Mirabai.
Mirabai began her 2026 season at the National Weightlifting Championships in February and set three new national records in the women’s 48kg category.
At the nationals, Mirabai lifted 89kg in the snatch – her best effort despite competing in a weight class below her usual 49kg division.
She followed it up with a successful 116kg lift in clean and jerk, which stands as the national record in the women’s 48kg category, taking her total to 205kg and securing the gold medal.
The effort also equalled her personal best total of 205kg in the 49kg category, which she had previously recorded at the Asian Weightlifting Championships five years ago.
Mirabai praised the launch of the Khelo India Tribal Games, describing it as an important platform for athletes from remote regions.
“The Khelo India Tribal Games will give a platform to all those athletes, hailing from remote places, to showcase their potential. I have come across numerous such instances from across the country, especially from the North-East and other tribal regions, where there is potential but couldn’t flourish due to lack of platforms like the KITG,” she said.
Mirabai also highlighted the role played by the National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) and the Khelo India State Centres of Excellence and SAI training centres across India in supporting elite athletes and nurturing the next generation of talent.
“The NCOEs and Khelo India State Centres of Excellence have been instrumental in providing facilities that have helped enable athletes to maintain top form with consistent coaching, nutrition and training environments. These centres are helping the sporting ecosystem,” she said.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mirabai-chanu-asian-games-2026-medal-preparation
