Mirabai Chanu leads India at Asian Games 2026, Aichi, Nagoya, Japan; Olympic-standard, toughest in career
Weightlifting in Asian Games 2026 will be Olympics standard, toughest for me: Mirabai Chanu
Weightlifting in Asian Games will be Olympics standard, toughest for me: Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai has won medals at all global weightlifting tournaments except the Asian Games.
India’s Mirabai Chanu feels the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi, Nagoya, Japan will be one of the “toughest competitions” in her international weightlifting career.
Mirabai Chanu will lead a five-member Indian weightlifting contingent at the Asian Games . The three-time Olympian will be one among the four women in the squad.
The weightlifting competition at the Asian Games will be held from September 22 to 28 at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium in Aichi.
Fresh after winning her third Commonwealth Games gold, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist feels the competition at the Asian Games will be “Olympic standard”.
“The strongest lifters in my weight category (49 kg) come from Asia and you will get a glimpse of the Olympics in Japan,” Mirabai said.
Injuries have jinxed Mirabai Chanu’s quest for an Asian Games medal in the past. At the last Games in Hangzhou , Mirabai finished fourth in the 49kg category after a hip and thigh injury ruined her campaign in the snatch section itself.
In the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Mirabai Chanu was ruled out with a severe back injury.
To stay injury free ahead of the upcoming Asian Games remains Mirabai’s topmost priority.
Two men who have been supervising her training at a facility in Modinagar in Uttar Pradesh have been coach Vijay Sharma and American strength and conditioning coach Dr Aaron Horschig. The association with Dr Horschig started in November 2020 and continues till today.
“We have a video call every Thursday with him and we discuss everything about training, recovery and the next steps,” Mirabai said.
“Everything is reviewed to the finest detail and since Dr Horschig was a weightlifter himself, he knows every muscle in the body. This constant review has kept me in shape.”
The quest for the Asian Games has been relentless. Mirabai and team did not waste a day after winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this time.
The CWG organisers had dismantled the weightlifting hall but Mirabai, Vijay Sharma and physio Rohit Chhabria found a gymnasium and paid for a training session in Glasgow.
“I was straight back to training at Modinagar. In fact, I did not go home and I have set myself a challenge ’no going home till I win a medal at the Asian Games,’” Mirabai said.
Despite the hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals, the Indian weightlifter is not attaching great importance to the level of competition in Glasgow.
“To be honest, the competition in the Commonwealth Games was not tough for me. I did not have to put in a lot of effort at Glasgow. The real test lies at the Asian Games,” Mirabai said.
In Glasgow, Mirabai lifted a total of 190kg (snatch - 85kg; clean and jerk - 105kg) to clinch the women’s 48kg gold medal, setting new Commonwealth Games records in the snatch, clean and jerk and overall total.
Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong claimed the silver medal with a total of 168kg (75kg+93kg), while Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry took bronze with 167kg (77kg+90kg).
Mirabai’s personal best is 205 kgs (89kg+116 kg) set at the 2021 Asian Championships and more recently at national championships in February 2026. “I want to see how far I can go in Japan. The Asian Games have been the toughest for me.”
Mirabai says she is expecting the toughest competition from weightlifters from the People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan and Thailand.
At Paris 2024 , Mirabai was relegated to the fourth spot by Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao by just one kilo. The Thai athlete had lifted a total of 200kgs.
“We have been careful with fitness and so far, I have felt good with my body,” Mirabai said, adding that the Asian Games remains her only target. “I will see how it goes at the Asian Games. In Los Angeles, the weight class will be 53kg and I will need to bulk up.
“That should not be a problem but everything will depend on the performance at the Asian Games and then we can plan with the Olympic qualifiers in December.
“I reckon all those who will compete in Japan will target LA 2028 but for now it’s mission Asian Games for me,” she added.
Picture by 2026 Getty Images
Mirabai Chanu - Indian weightlifting’s serial winner