India's Olympic icon Chanu eyes elusive Asian Games medal
A medal that has continued to elude her
Mirabai Chanu has already built one of the most decorated careers in Indian weightlifting. Her achievements include an Olympic silver medal, a world championship title and multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals. Yet the Asian Games remain an unfinished chapter.
Chanu finished ninth at the 2014 Asian Games and missed the 2018 edition because of injury. At the 2022 Asian Games, held in Hangzhou in 2023 after a postponement, she came agonisingly close to the podium but finished fourth after injury problems affected her performance.
Confidence is high after Glasgow success
Chanu enters the Asian Games after a powerful performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. In Glasgow, she won the women's 48kg competition with a total of 190kg, adding another Commonwealth title to her remarkable career.
The victory also gave her valuable momentum heading into the Asian Games. Rather than taking an extended break after Glasgow, Chanu quickly returned to training as she focused on the larger challenge waiting in Japan.
The challenge will be much tougher
Chanu knows that success in Nagoya will require more than simply repeating her Commonwealth Games performance. Asian weightlifting is traditionally one of the toughest environments in the sport, with leading competitors from China, North Korea and Thailand expected to provide a major test.
The Indian star has described the Asian Games as an especially demanding competition. Her goal is therefore not simply to participate but to put herself in position to fight for the podium when the women's 49kg competition takes place.
From a village in Manipur to Olympic glory
Chanu's journey to the top of international weightlifting began in Manipur. She took up the sport as a teenager and gradually transformed herself into one of India's best-known athletes.
Her breakthrough on the biggest stage came at the Tokyo Olympics, where she won silver in the women's 49kg category. That result turned her into a household name across India and added an Olympic milestone to an already impressive career.
Her success has also been shaped by the support of her family and long-time coach Vijay Sharma, who has worked with her through major victories as well as difficult periods involving injury and recovery.
Her biggest target now: September 23
The Asian Games begin in Aichi-Nagoya on September 19, with Chanu scheduled to compete in the women's 49kg weightlifting event on September 23.
Watch Mirabai Chanu's Commonwealth Games triumph
Chanu's latest major victory came in Glasgow, where she produced a record-setting total to claim another Commonwealth Games gold. The video below shows coverage of that performance.
Why this Asian Games attempt is different
Chanu has already experienced the disappointment of coming close without reaching the podium. That history makes her latest campaign especially significant. At 32, she is approaching the later stages of a career that has already produced Olympic, world and Commonwealth success.
Her recent Commonwealth victory has provided a strong confidence boost, but the Asian Games represent a completely different challenge. The strongest Asian lifters will be competing, making every successful attempt and every kilogram potentially decisive.
A chance to complete the collection
For Indian fans, Chanu's Asian Games campaign carries significance beyond one competition. Winning the medal that has repeatedly slipped away would give a remarkable career another defining moment.
Chanu has made her objective clear: arrive prepared, stay healthy and fight for the podium. If she can convert her current confidence into a strong performance on September 23, the long-awaited Asian Games medal could finally become part of her legacy.
Bottom line
Mirabai Chanu enters the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with Olympic experience, world-level success, multiple Commonwealth titles and renewed confidence after her 2026 Glasgow victory. What is missing is an Asian Games medal — and this may be one of her most important opportunities to finally add it to her collection.
Main reporting: AFP reports published September 10, 2026, including coverage carried by The Straits Times and other international outlets.
Additional background: PTI reporting on Chanu's Aichi-Nagoya preparations.
Main photo: Outlook India / AP.
Additional photo: Business Today / Getty Images.
Video: NDTV / YouTube.
Editor's note: This article has been independently written and originally worded for publication. Facts have been checked against current reports. Photo and video copyrights remain with their respective owners.
