ndia ended its campaign at the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, Gujarat with a total of 10 medals — one silver and nine bronze after six days of intense competition among Asia’s top lifters from 30 countries. The championship, held from May 11–17 at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, showcased some of the continent’s best strength athletes and was only the second time India hosted this flagship weightlifting event.
India’s 10-medal collection represented a substantial improvement over the previous edition, in which the Indian contingent finished without any medals. The team’s performance was backed by a mix of seasoned performers and emerging talent, highlighting depth across several weight categories.
The only silver medal was claimed by Gyaneshwari Yadav in the women’s 53 kg snatch segment. Yadav also added a bronze in the overall total, narrowly missing a higher finish by a small margin.
Rising star Komal Kohar gave India a strong start on the opening day by winning two bronze medals in the women’s 48 kg category, including a bronze in the clean & jerk and another in the total lift. Kohar’s performance was particularly significant given the absence of former Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu due to injury.
In the men’s competition, Ajith Narayana delivered a notable performance in the 71 kg category, securing two bronze medals — one in the clean & jerk and one in the total. His combined effort of 314 kg underscored his competitiveness against leading lifters from across Asia.
Another highlight was Sanjana in the women’s 77 kg division, who won three bronze medals by consistently lifting 96 kg in snatch and 124 kg in clean & jerk for a 220 kg total, ensuring India remained on the podium in one of the most competitive categories.
India also received contributions from Harjinder Kaur, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 69 kg snatch event, adding further strength to the team’s tally.
Although Commonwealth Games medallist Lovepreet Singh did not medal, he delivered a personal record total of 386 kg in the men’s +110 kg category — lifting 174 kg in snatch and 212 kg in clean & jerk — and finished a strong fifth place, demonstrating improved form on the continental stage.
In the team rankings, India finished third in the women’s standings and fifth among the men, with China dominating both divisions and topping the overall medal table. The championships also saw an extraordinary number of records broken, including multiple Asian and world marks in various categories. T
The performance in Gandhinagar signals a rising trajectory for Indian weightlifting at the continental level, with renewed confidence ahead of global and multi-sport events on the horizon.
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