Mirabai Chanu leads India’s five-member weightlifting squad at the 2026 Asian Games as she targets the first Asiad medal of her career.
Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu is leading India’s five-member weightlifting squad at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The Indian team comprises four women and one man, with Chanu competing in the women’s 49kg category. She will attempt to win the only major multi-sport medal missing from her distinguished career.
Weightlifting events at the Asian Games are being held at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium from September 22 to 28.
Mirabai Chanu Targets First Asian Games Medal
Chanu has won an Olympic silver medal, a World Championship gold and multiple Commonwealth Games titles, but she has yet to finish on the Asian Games podium.
The 31-year-old finished ninth at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. She narrowly missed a medal at Hangzhou 2023 after placing fourth in the women’s 49kg competition.
A medal in Aichi-Nagoya would complete Chanu’s collection across the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
She enters the event after winning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow. Chanu lifted a combined 190kg—85kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk—to set new Commonwealth Games records in the 48kg category.
India Names Five-Member Weightlifting Team
Commonwealth Games medallists Gyaneshwari Yadav, Harjinder Kaur and Rishikanta Singh Chanambam are also part of the squad.
Gyaneshwari will compete in the women’s 53kg category, while Seram Nirupama Devi has been selected for the women’s 61kg event. Harjinder will participate in the women’s 69kg competition.
Rishikanta is India’s only male weightlifter at the Games and will compete in the men’s 60kg category.
India’s Asian Games weightlifting squad
- Mirabai Chanu — women’s 49kg
- Gyaneshwari Yadav — women’s 53kg
- Seram Nirupama Devi — women’s 61kg
- Harjinder Kaur — women’s 69kg
- Rishikanta Singh Chanambam — men’s 60kg
India Chases Historic Weightlifting Gold
India has won 14 weightlifting medals in Asian Games history, comprising five silver and nine bronze medals. An Indian weightlifter has never won gold at the continental event.
Chanu represents the country’s strongest chance of changing that record, although she will face intense competition from lifters representing China, North Korea, Thailand and other leading Asian nations.
The Indian squad arrives in Japan with confidence after its performances at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Gyaneshwari, Harjinder and Rishikanta all secured silver medals in Glasgow, adding further experience to the team.
Chanu and Gyaneshwari are scheduled to be among India’s leading medal contenders on Day 5 of the Asian Games. Their performances could provide India with an early breakthrough in a sport where competition at the Asian level is often tougher than at the Commonwealth Games.
The 20th Asian Games are being staged across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya from September 19 to October 4. India is participating in weightlifting alongside more than 30 other sporting disciplines.
About the Author
