By Karunesh Kumar
New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): India’s ace weightlifter Mirabai Chanu fulfilled a long-awaited dream on the 2026 Asian Games by securing her maiden Asian Games podium end, claiming silver within the girls’s 49kg weightlifting occasion on the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist completed with a complete carry of 198kg-87kg within the snatch and 111kg within the clear and jerk. Her historic efficiency ended a 28-year medal drought for Indian weightlifting on the Asian Games, becoming a member of Karnam Malleshwari as solely the second Indian weightlifter to win medals throughout the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Championships.
Reflecting on her landmark victory, Chanu expressed her feelings to ANI on Tuesday, “I am extremely happy. I have been waiting for this moment for many years, and finally, my dream has been fulfilled. An Asian Games medal was the one thing missing from my tally, and I’m proud to have finally achieved it.”
Chanu delivered a scientific efficiency within the snatch part, sequentially lifting 83kg, 85kg, and 87kg with relative ease. Heading into the clear and jerk, she trailed solely North Korea’s Ri Song-gum and Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana.
She opened the clear and jerk section with a profitable 107kg carry earlier than bettering to 111kg on her second try. With the silver medal successfully locked in, she strategically selected to not take her third try.
Addressing her tactical selections in the course of the occasion, Chanu highlighted her satisfaction with the silver and acknowledged the fierce competitors:
‘I’m happy with the outcome. We knew it could be very troublesome to struggle for the gold medal as a result of we have been conscious of how robust the North Korean athlete is. I couldn’t match her, however we knew we had a very good likelihood of preventing for the silver and bronze medals. I had nearly secured the silver with my second carry, so I did not try the third. In the tip, I simply wanted to safe a medal, and I used to be capable of win the silver. Before the match, I had considered lifting greater than 200 kg, however as soon as the competitors began, the main focus was on securing a medal.’
Detailing her technique alongside her coach, Vijay Sharma, Chanu defined why they favoured a cautious build-up within the snatch over aggressive makes an attempt.
“We had thought that if we lifted around 88 or 89 kg in snatch, we would have a strong chance of fighting for the silver medal. But on the day of the competition, everything depends on what is on the board-the starting weights, what the other competitors are attempting, and how the competition is unfolding. Both my coach and I felt that 88 or 89 kg would be enough to secure silver. By lifting 87 kg, we had almost secured the medal. That’s why, as a safety measure, sir suggested that we start with 83 kg and then increase the weight gradually, two kilos at a time, to make sure we got a safe lift.”
Following adjustments to the Olympic weight classes, Chanu confirmed plans to transition from the 49kg class as much as the 53kg class. She expressed optimism that the burden improve would assist in managing her bodily accidents whereas taking over new aggressive challenges:
“Right now, I’m competing in the 49 kg category, but I started weightlifting in the 48 kg and 49 kg categories. Since the Olympic weight categories have now changed, the 49 kg category will remain for the other major championships, while the Olympic category will start from 53 kg. I will move up to 53 kg, and I think the increase in weight could actually be a good thing for me. Moving up may also give me some relief from my injury. There will be a lot of strong competitors in the 53 kg category-those who have already competed in that weight class, as well as athletes moving up from 49 kg for the Olympics. So, yes, it will be tough, but I will give it my best. With the increase in weight, I believe there should also be a difference in strength and performance.”
An Olympic, World and Asian Championships medallist and Commonwealth Games champion, the Asian Games was the one main worldwide occasion the place Mirabai Chanu had but to face on the rostrum earlier than Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
With her maiden Asian Games medal, Chanu turned the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleshwari to win medals on the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships.
Mirabai’s coach, Vijay Sharma, praised her self-discipline and highlighted the significance of this victory for the sports activities ecosystem again house.
“Mirabai has labored extraordinarily onerous for this medal. When she gained it, your complete Indian weightlifting group was overjoyed as a result of we had not gained a medal in weightlifting on the Asian Games for 28 years. Mirabai has lastly introduced that medal again for us, and the weightlifting federation, together with your complete group, is extraordinarily blissful. I hope this achievement evokes the subsequent technology of Indian weightlifters. Seeing Mirabai win an Asian Games medal will encourage extra younger athletes to take up the game and provides them the idea and need to compete for medals on the highest degree,’ Sharma advised ANI. (ANI)Â