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Saikhom Mirabai Chanu targets Asian Games glory in Nagoya 2026, juggling 48kg and 49kg classes after record breaking 2026 Nationals and Paris 2024 near miss.
Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (PTI)
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has had a glittering career spanning over a decade, in which she has won multiple World Championship titles as well as an Olympic silver medal. Yet an Asian Games medal still eludes the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna Awardee.
The legendary Manipuri lifter’s performances at the continental meet have been a saga of ‘what ifs’ and physical setbacks.
A 19-year-old Mirabai made her debut, finishing 9th at the 2014 Incheon Games. At Jakarta in 2018, she was forced to withdraw entirely due to a persistent back injury. The closest Mirabai came to a medal was at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where a hip injury dashed her hopes after she had come agonisingly close to reaching the podium. The setback sidelined her for nearly five months.
Mirabai proved her resilience by bouncing back from that hip injury to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she missed a podium finish by the narrowest of margins.
Now 31, the veteran lifter has made it clear that her primary mission is to finally conquer the Asian Games stage and complete her legendary resume.
The 20th Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
“The Asian Games is very important personally because I still have unfinished business there. The competition level is very high, which makes it even more challenging and exciting,” Mirabai said at a press conference following the opening ceremony of the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 on Wednesday.
Managing Weight
One of the key challenges for Mirabai has been adjusting her weight category. She has largely competed in the 49kg division but must now shift between categories following a revision in weight classes by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
As a result, she will compete in the 48kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled from July 23 to August 2, before moving back to 49kg for another attempt at an Asian Games medal at the upcoming edition in Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
“I will keep my weight within 48kg till the Commonwealth Games, but within two months of it, there are Asian Games, which is in 49 kg, so I will have to switch back,” noted Chanu.
She began her 2026 season in impressive fashion at the National Weightlifting Championships in February, setting three new national records in the women’s 48kg category. At the Nationals, Mirabai lifted 89kg in the snatch — her best effort despite competing in a weight class below her usual 49kg division. She followed it up with a successful 116kg lift in clean and jerk, which stands as the national record in the women’s 48kg category, taking her total to 205kg and securing the gold medal.
The effort also equalled her personal best total of 205kg in the 49kg category, which she had previously recorded at the Asian Weightlifting Championships five years ago.
Khelo India Tribal Games
Meanwhile, Mirabai, who considers her gold medal at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships even more special than her Olympic silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, praised the launch of the Khelo India Tribal Games, describing it as an important platform for athletes from remote regions.
“This a proud moment for me personally as a player to see the government prioritising numerous sports initiatives like Khelo India Tribal Games. The KIBG will give a platform to all those athletes, hailing from remote places, to showcase their potential. I have come across numerous such instances from across the country, especially from the North-East and other tribal regions where there is potential but couldn’t flourish due to lack of platforms like the KITG,” she said.
Mirabai also highlighted the role played by the National Centres of Excellence and State Centres of Excellence in supporting elite athletes and nurturing the next generation of talent.
“The NCOEs and SCOEs have been instrumental in providing world-class training facilities that has helped enabled elite athletes to maintain top form. There are several young athletes training in those centres who are preparing for global events, and with consistent coaching, nutrition and training environments, those centres are helping the sporting ecosystem,” she said.
Raipur, India, India
March 26, 2026, 13:59 IST
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