Mirabai Chanu finally has her Asian Games medal. The Indian weightlifter secured silver in the women's 49kg category in Nagoya on Wednesday, ending India's long wait for a podium finish in weightlifting at the continental Games.

Chanu produced a combined lift of 198kg, enough to secure second place and deliver India's first Asian Games weightlifting medal since Karnam Malleswari's silver in Bangkok in 1998.

North Korea's Ri Song Gum dominated the event, claiming gold with a massive 215kg total. Indonesia's Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana finished third with 191kg.

A MEDAL THAT HAD BEEN MISSING

The silver completes a significant gap in Chanu's decorated career.

The 31-year-old has already collected medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games, including three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals. But an Asian Games medal had remained missing from her record.

Her journey at the continental event has been anything but straightforward.

Chanu finished ninth at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. She missed the 2018 edition in Jakarta because of a back injury before returning at Hangzhou in 2023.

At Hangzhou, she was within reach of a podium finish but an injury during the clean and jerk disrupted her campaign, leaving her fourth.

This time, there was no repeat disappointment.

198KG TOTAL PUTS INDIA BACK ON PODIUM

Chanu lifted 85kg in the snatch before managing 113kg in the clean and jerk, taking her overall tally to 198kg.

While Ri's 215kg total proved too strong to match, Chanu's performance was enough to secure silver and restore India's presence on the Asian Games weightlifting podium after 28 years.

The result also comes after a strong run of form. Earlier this year, Chanu won her third successive Commonwealth Games gold, lifting 85kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk.

The Asian Games, however, presented a tougher challenge with a stronger field, including defending champion and reigning world champion Ri.

28 YEARS AFTER MALLESWARI

India's previous Asian Games weightlifting medal came in 1998, when Karnam Malleswari won silver in Bangkok.

No Indian weightlifter had returned to the podium at the continental Games since.

Chanu has now ended that drought.

Her 198kg effort not only earned her a long-awaited Asian Games medal but also added another landmark to one of India's most accomplished weightlifting careers.