India’s Day 5 campaign at the Asian Games 2026 produced a major moment in weightlifting as Mirabai Chanu finally secured an Asian Games medal, winning silver in the women’s 49kg category. Chanu entered the competition with a significant gap in her otherwise decorated international career. While she had already won major honours at the Olympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games, an Asian Games medal had remained missing from her collection. That wait ended on Wednesday when she finished second in a highly competitive 49kg final. Chanu lifted 87kg in the snatch and followed it with a 111kg clean and jerk, giving her a combined total of 198kg. North Korea’s Ri Song-gum won the gold after producing a world-record performance across the three lifts. Ri lifted 94kg in the snatch, 121kg in the clean and jerk and 215kg overall, setting new world records in each category.

Deepika Leads India’s Huge Hockey Attack

The Indian women’s hockey team produced another dominant display, racing to a huge advantage against Thailand in their Pool B match. India quickly established control of the contest and repeatedly broke through the Thai defence. The team had already moved 5-0 ahead during the opening quarter before continuing the scoring spree. Deepika emerged as one of the biggest performers of the match. She completed a hat-trick during the first quarter and continued to trouble Thailand from penalty corners. Her fourth goal helped India move further ahead, while additional goals from Rutuja Pisal and Neha added to the pressure on Thailand.

By half-time, India had built an 11-0 advantage.

The scoring continued after the interval, with Deepika adding another goal to complete a five-goal individual contribution as India moved to a 12-0 lead. The performance underlined the depth of India's attacking options and gave the team another strong showing during the group stage. India had entered the match looking to strengthen its position in Pool B, and the emphatic scoreline put the team in a strong position during the contest.

Mirabai Chanu’s Historic Medal Moment

For Chanu, the silver medal carried particular significance because of the long wait involved. The Manipuri weightlifter had previously achieved some of the biggest honours available in international weightlifting. She won Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020 and has also collected World Championship and Commonwealth Games medals. However, she had not been able to stand on the Asian Games podium before Wednesday. Her previous Asian Games campaigns had ended without a medal, making the 2026 edition an important opportunity. She began her final with an 83kg opening snatch before moving higher. Her final snatch mark of 87kg left her in medal contention before she moved to the clean and jerk section.

Ri Song-gum Sets Three World Records

While Chanu secured silver, North Korea’s Ri Song-gum produced one of the standout performances of the competition. Competing in the same 49kg category, Ri completed a 94kg snatch, followed by a 121kg clean and jerk.

Her combined total of 215kg became another world record.

The three marks meant that she rewrote the world records for the snatch, clean and jerk and overall total in the category. Her performance created a substantial gap between herself and the rest of the field, with Chanu finishing second. The result demonstrated the extremely high standard of competition in the women’s weightlifting events at the Games.

India Adds More Medals In Shooting

Weightlifting and hockey were not the only major stories for India on Day 5. The shooting contingent also continued its medal-winning run. India’s women’s skeet team secured a bronze medal, adding another podium finish to the country’s growing medal tally. The team featured Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan. The result came during a busy day for Indian shooters, with several athletes competing in both individual and team events. Raiza Dhillon later competed in the individual women’s skeet final and finished fourth, narrowly missing out on an individual medal. Her performance still kept India prominently involved in the event after the team had already secured bronze. Shooting has been one of India's most productive disciplines during the Games, with athletes contributing several medals since the competition began.

Manu Bhaker Misses Out On Individual Medal

Another major focus of Day 5 was Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker. Bhaker qualified for the women's 10m air pistol final after competing in the qualification stage alongside Suruchi Inder Singh and Esha Singh. She entered the final as one of India's prominent medal contenders, but ultimately could not secure a podium finish. Her campaign attracted considerable attention because this was her first Asian Games appearance and she had already established herself as one of India's leading international shooters. The result meant that the spotlight shifted to other Indian medal winners as the day progressed. Bhaker's participation nevertheless remained one of the most followed events of the Indian campaign.

Jay Meena Creates History In Soft Tennis

Another important achievement came from Jay Meena in soft tennis. Meena progressed to the semifinals of the men's singles event, ensuring India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. The result was particularly significant because the sport has not traditionally been among India's major medal-producing disciplines. By reaching the last four, Meena secured at least a bronze medal and created a new milestone for India's participation in the sport. His performance added another dimension to India's medal campaign on a day that already included major results in weightlifting and shooting.

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Badminton Team Targets Final Against China

The Indian men's badminton team also remained one of the major attractions on Day 5. After defeating Japan in the quarterfinals and securing a medal, India advanced to the semifinal stage. The team faced China with a place in the gold medal match at stake. The Indian squad included major names such as Lakshya Sen and the doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The team had already guaranteed itself a medal before entering the semifinal, meaning the match against China was an opportunity to move from a secured podium position into the title clash. The badminton campaign was being closely followed after India's men's team defeated Japan in the previous round.

India’s Day 5 Campaign Across Multiple Sports

India’s schedule on September 23 extended far beyond the headline events. Athletes were competing across shooting, weightlifting, badminton, hockey, kabaddi, rowing, squash, boxing, fencing, canoe sprint, swimming, wushu, soft tennis and other disciplines. The packed schedule meant that the Indian contingent had medal opportunities as well as qualification and knockout matches throughout the day. Abhay Singh made a strong start in squash, winning his opening match 11-1, 11-0, 11-2 to move into the Round of 16. Indian athletes were also active in rowing, sepaktakraw, table tennis and canoe sprint as the country's campaign continued across multiple venues. The breadth of participation is significant because India is targeting medals across a much wider range of disciplines than only its traditional strengths in shooting, wrestling, boxing, badminton and weightlifting.

Why Day 5 Is Important For India

Day 5 has emerged as one of the busiest days of the Asian Games 2026 for the Indian contingent. The day began with medal action and quickly produced results in shooting and soft tennis before Chanu added another major medal in weightlifting. The hockey team's commanding performance against Thailand provided another highlight, while India's men's badminton team entered a crucial semifinal. The combination of established stars and emerging athletes has made the Indian campaign particularly interesting to follow. For Chanu, the silver medal completed a missing part of her international medal collection. For Meena, the soft tennis result created a first for India. In shooting, the women's skeet team added another medal, while the hockey team continued its strong group-stage performance.

What To Watch Next For India

The Indian contingent still has several important events ahead at the Games. Weightlifting will remain in focus with more Indian athletes scheduled to compete in different categories. Badminton will continue to draw attention as the men's team fights for a place in the final. Hockey will also remain important as the women's team progresses through the pool stage. Wushu, fencing, boxing, kabaddi and shooting are among the other disciplines where Indian athletes remain involved in medal or knockout competitions. The results from Day 5 have therefore added both medals and important momentum to India's wider campaign. With several competitions still to be completed, India's final medal count for the day will depend on the outcomes of the remaining events.

What happened to Mirabai Chanu at the Asian Games 2026?

Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting event. She lifted 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk for a 198kg total.

Did Mirabai Chanu win an Asian Games medal before 2026?

No. The 2026 Asian Games silver ended her wait for an Asian Games medal. She had already won major medals at the Olympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.