Asian Games: ‘My Dream Has Been Fulfilled’ -- Vijay Sharma Hails Mirabai Chanu’s Silver Medal

Asian Games: ‘My dream has been fulfilled’ -- Vijay Sharma hails Mirabai Chanu’s silver medal (Nagoya: Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver at Asian Games 2026)

Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri: Mirabai Chanu’s historic Asian Games silver medal completed a long-awaited dream for her coach Vijay Sharma, who said the podium finish was equally significant for Indian weightlifting as it ended the country’s 28-year wait for a medal at the continental showpiece.

“Every coach has a dream. You set certain goals for yourself and think, ‘This is something I have to achieve in my life.’ One thing that was missing from my list of dreams was an Asian Games medal. Today, I have got that medal, so my dream has been fulfilled. And now, after achieving this, perhaps I can dream of new things,” Sharma told IANS.

The 32-year-old Chanu lifted a total of 198kg (87kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and jerk) to win the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category.

Ri Song-gum of North Korea took gold with a 210kg total, and Indonesia’s Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri won bronze with 191kg.

The medal ended a long wait for Chanu at the Asian Games. She missed the 2018 edition due to injury and finished fourth in the 2023 Hangzhou Games after a thigh injury hampered her performance in the clean and jerk.

And the silver also filled Chanu’s medal collection from the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

For Indian weightlifting, the achievement carried even greater significance as it marked the country’s first Asian Games medal in the sport since Karnam Malleswari won silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games.

Sharma underlined the wider importance of Chanu’s achievement and said it could inspire the next generation of Indian weightlifters.

For Indian weightlifting, the achievement carried even greater significance as it marked the country’s first Asian Games medal in the sport since Karnam Malleswari won silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games.

Chanu’s silver also added to India’s medal tally at the ongoing Asian Games and ensured that her long-awaited pursuit of an Asian Games podium finish finally came to fruition.

Article Source: IANS