Chanu eyes elusive Asian Games medal

An Olympic silver, a world title and multiple Commonwealth Games golds have already filled Mirabai Chanu's trophy cabinet, but an Asian Games medal remains the one missing piece, and the star Indian weightlifter will look to complete her collection when she takes the platform here on Wednesday.

Chanu, competing in the women's 49kg category, will have an opportunity to end her Asian Games medal drought with Chinese lifters absent from the competition.

Standing between her and the gold, however, is reigning world and Asian Games champion Ri Song Gum of North Korea, who remains the leading contender in the category.

Chanu has twice missed the Asian Games podium. She finished ninth on her debut at the 2014 edition, missed the 2018 Games because of a back injury and finished fourth in Hangzhou in 2023 after suffering a hip injury while competing.

The 32-year-old has since tailored her preparation specifically towards the Aichi-Nagoya Games under chief coach Vijay Sharma.

Even after winning gold at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Chanu returned to training the following day as she continued her preparations for the Asian Games.

"The focus is on to win a medal at the Asian Games. That's been the aim for a very long time. It is the only medal I don't have," Chanu had told PTI.

Her preparations have also included an attempt to push her limits in competition, with the Manipuri targeting a 90kg snatch -- a mark she has been chasing for the past six years.

"You can't really predict how the body will perform on a given day but I will try to get 90kg in the Asian Games for sure," she had said.

Chanu's challenge, however, will be far from straightforward.

Ri has established herself as the lifter to beat in the category, while Chanu will also have to manage the physical demands of a major competition that could potentially be her final Asian Games appearance.

South Korea's Jaegyeong Shin, Chinese Taipei's Fang Wan-ling and Thailand's Suthasini Kaeosingkhon are among the other lifters who could challenge for the medals.

For Chanu, the competition offers another chance to add an Asian Games medal to a career that already includes an Olympic silver from Tokyo, a world championship title and Commonwealth Games golds.