India’s weightlifters returned with glory from the Commonwealth Games 2026, securing eight medals, including a historic gold from Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. The nation has won 14 medals in all — five silver and nine bronze — with the elusive gold still missing from the cabinet. The four-member contingent this time will look to add to their CWG momentum with Asian Games glory, perhaps even clinching that first gold, when the weightlifting competition runs from September 22–28 at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
But unlike at the CWG, weightlifting has not quite been India’s strongest suit at the Asian Games.
Who forms the Indian weightlifting team?
Commonwealth Games 2026 silver medallists Gyaneshwari Yadav and Harjinder Kaur will compete in the women’s 53kg and 69kg categories respectively, while Seram Nirupama Devi completes the women’s squad in the 61kg division. Rishikanta Singh Chanambam, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games last month in the 60kg category, was the sole male weightlifter in the original squad. He has since withdrawn with a recurring knee injury. Having competed through the pain to finish second in Glasgow, Rishikanta was advised against risking further damage, leaving four women to carry India’s medal hopes in Japan. Against that backdrop, the CWG success does offer some optimism. Chanu remains India’s strongest hope to end the long-standing drought, despite her Asiad history. She even skipped a trip home to Manipur after her exploits in Glasgow, staying back in New Delhi to train.
“It’s so close,” she told AFP last week of her chances of finally standing on an Asian Games podium at her third attempt. “It is a strong field at weightlifting in the Asian Games but my preparation is good and I feel confident,” she added.
