What's next for Mirabai Chanu after silver at Asian Games 2026?
(Courtesy : @mirabai_chanu/Twitter)
“I feel my life is complete now,” Chanu said
Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu has finally added an Asian Games medal to her trophy case, and the timing couldn’t be sweeter.
The 32-year-old Manipuri weightlifter won silver in the women’s 49kg category at the 2026 Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, lifting a combined total of 198kg, made up of 87kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and jerk. She finished behind North Korea’s Ri Song-gum, with an Indonesian lifter taking bronze.
Chanu said, “Finally, I have got the medal that I wanted, which I have been chasing for 12 years. I am feeling very light now because the pressure is completely gone from me. This is my dream Asian Games medal. I feel my life is complete now.”
RELATED: Mirabai Chanu ends wait for maiden Asian Games medal; bags silver in 49kg weightlifting event
She also spoke about the pressure of expectations, saying, “Everyone expects a medal from me. So, I also think, ‘If I make a mistake, what will I do?’ So, I feel pressure. On the other hand, I am proud of my strength. I have confidence and belief in myself.”
On why she pushed for a heavier lift even after silver was secured, she said, “I wanted to lift more than 110kg in clean and jerk. I didn’t know how much the Indonesian bronze medallist would lift.”
“I knew the gold was not there for me. But I just wanted to give my best performance. I didn’t want to win a medal by lifting less.”
RELATED: ‘Dream come true’ – Mirabai Chanu reflects on maiden Asian Games medal
What comes next for the weightlifting star?
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The bigger question now is what’s next? The 49kg category, the one Chanu has competed in for years, will not feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It is being replaced by the 53kg weight class, a change that presents her with a significant new challenge.
On the transition, she said, “We have not decided yet, but we will try. Qualifying starts in December, but we have not yet decided whether we will start or not in December. But for now, I will enjoy.”
Before that decision even comes up, though, Chanu has a nearer target. But she hasn’t shared much detail.
The 2026 World Weightlifting Championships are scheduled for October 27 to November 8 at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in Ningbo, China, giving her a chance to compete again within weeks of this Asian Games medal.
On the physical demands of moving up a category, she explained, “I have been playing in 49kg. During training, I usually maintain an additional 1.5kg, keeping my weight around 50.5kg. Maintaining that is difficult for us. I have to do weight training. I have to take a lot of load.”
She added that any weight gain has to be handled with care: “If we gain weight suddenly, our performance can also go down. Strength will also not be that much. We are thinking of increasing the weight along with strength.”
On managing the shift itself, she said separately, “To maintain strength in my muscles, we will manage my weight gradually. I will keep track of what I eat and make the necessary changes to my diet. If I move up to 53kg too quickly, my strength could drop. So, I have to control my weight along with my strength.”
Her career record remains the most decorated in Indian weightlifting history, with an Olympic silver from Tokyo 2020, a World Championship gold in 2017 along with a couple of silvers, three Commonwealth Games golds, and now this Asian Games silver.
With Ningbo coming up in October and the 53kg transition looming beyond that, her next few months will likely shape whether she can add an Olympic medal in a brand-new weight category to her collection.
What medal did Mirabai Chanu win at Asian Games 2026?
Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg category with a total of 198kg (87kg snatch and 111kg clean and jerk). North Korea’s Ri Song-gum took gold, and an Indonesian lifter won bronze.
Will Mirabai Chanu move to the 53kg category for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
The 49kg category will not feature at LA 2028 and is being replaced by 53kg. Mirabai Chanu said nothing is decided yet, and that qualifying starts in December but she hasn’t confirmed whether she will start then.
When are the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships?
They run from October 27 to November 8, 2026, at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in Ningbo, China. Mirabai Chanu could compete there within weeks of her Asian Games medal.
When will Mirabai Chanu be in action next?
Mirabai Chanu is expected to return to action at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships, scheduled from October 27 to November 8 in Ningbo, China.
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