Olympic silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has made a fresh appeal to the government for the Arjuna Award after securing a historic silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on Wednesday.
Chanu, 32, ended India’s 28-year wait for an Asian Games weightlifting medal with a total lift of 198kg. She lifted 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk to finish second.
North Korea’s reigning world-record holder Ri Song-gum won the gold with a total of 210kg, while Indonesia’s Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri claimed bronze with 191kg.
Chanu’s silver made her the first Indian weightlifter to win an Asian Games medal since Karnam Malleswari’s silver at the 1998 Bangkok Games. The achievement also completed Chanu’s medal collection across the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
‘I Don’t Have It, I Want It’: Chanu on Arjuna Award
Despite receiving the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour, as well as the Padma Shri in 2018, Chanu said the Arjuna Award remains a long-standing dream.
Speaking to IANS in Nagoya, she requested the government to consider her achievements and confer the honour on her.
“I would like to request that the government give me the Arjuna Award. I will be very happy. The Arjuna Award is the biggest. I don’t have it. I want it. I will be very happy if the government considers my achievement and awards it to me,” Chanu said.
Under the usual Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports guidelines, athletes who have received the Khel Ratna are rarely considered for the Arjuna Award. However, special appeals and recommendations, including recent support from Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav, have kept Chanu’s request in focus.
Emotional Asian Games Moment for Mirabai Chanu
The silver medal was particularly significant for Chanu after several difficult Asian Games campaigns.
She finished ninth at the 2014 Incheon Games, missed the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang edition because of a recurring back problem and narrowly missed the podium at Hangzhou 2022, where she finished fourth while competing with a thigh injury.
Her Nagoya medal finally ended that long wait for an Asian Games podium.
Chanu admitted that she was emotional after achieving her goal.
“Yes, I was very emotional in Glasgow. They were happy tears. Today also I felt like crying. I had tears in my eyes out of happiness, but I didn’t cry. I was very happy. I got what I wanted. Today, my dream has come true,” she said.
“I am very happy with this medal. I have been dreaming of winning a medal in the Asian Games for many years. Today, my dream has come true. I am very proud of myself. I have won a silver medal for the country in weightlifting after many years,” she added.
Weightlifting Federation Chief Supports Her Appeal
Indian Weightlifting Federation president and Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav also backed Chanu’s request for the Arjuna Award. He said he would personally raise the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Yadav said Chanu has repeatedly expressed her desire to receive the honour and believes her achievement deserves consideration.
“She has a dream, and she says it again and again, so the government should think. I will request this time when I meet the Prime Minister to give the Arjuna Award to Mirabai,” Sahdev told IANS.
He added that Chanu already has the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna but continues to wish for the Arjuna Award as part of her personal aspirations.
Chanu’s historic Asian Games silver has added another major achievement to her career. Her request for the Arjuna Award now awaits consideration from the government.