India added four medals to its 2026 Asian Games tally on September 23, with Mirabai Chanu winning silver in women’s 49kg weightlifting and Jay Meena claiming a historic bronze in men’s soft tennis in Aichi-Nagoya.
Key Takeaways
- Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event.
- Jay Meena secured India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis.
- India also won bronze medals in the men’s and women’s skeet team events.
Mirabai Chanu and Jay Meena emerged as two of India’s biggest medal stories on Wednesday as the country added four medals at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event. The result added an Asian Games medal to a career that already includes an Olympic silver, World Championship gold and Commonwealth Games gold.
Jay Meena, meanwhile, made history in soft tennis, becoming the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in the sport.
Jay Meena makes soft tennis history
Meena secured bronze in the men’s singles after losing 2-4 to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka in the semifinal.
The Indian had produced a remarkable comeback in the quarterfinal against Sherwin Nuguit. He trailed 3-5 in the deciding game before winning the next four points. The 4-3 victory sent him into the semifinal and guaranteed India its first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis.
Meena’s journey in the sport began almost by accident.
He initially wanted to become a cricketer. After joining Pioneer Public School in Dewas, he came across a soft tennis court. He first watched players in action and later worked as a ball boy before taking up the sport.
His semifinal defeat ended his campaign, but the bronze medal marked a historic achievement for Indian soft tennis.
Mirabai Chanu adds Asian Games silver
Weightlifting provided another major highlight as Mirabai Chanu competed in the women’s 49kg final.
Chanu produced strong lifts, including an 87kg snatch, while competing against a strong field led by North Korea’s Ri Song-gum.
According to a PTI X Post, Mirabai Chanu won a Silver and bagged first Asian Games medal. It also added another major achievement to her international record.
Her career already includes an Olympic silver medal, a World Championship gold and Commonwealth Games gold.
News Alert! Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu clinches silver medal in women’s 49kg at Asian Games. pic.twitter.com/aBDjB7aXVi
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 23, 2026
Shooting adds two more bronzes
India collected two additional bronze medals through its skeet teams.
The women’s team of Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Maheshwari Chauhan and Raiza Dhillon finished third. The men’s team of Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Bhavtegh Singh Gill also claimed bronze.
The Indian men’s skeet trio scored 346 points. Qatar took gold, while Kuwait won silver.
Anantjeet also qualified for the individual final after scoring 119 out of 125 in qualification. Mairaj scored 116/125, while Bhavtegh recorded 111/125 and missed the final.
Manu Bhaker misses 10m air pistol podium
India narrowly missed out on medals in the 10m air pistol events.
Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women’s individual final with 181.1 points.
The Indian women’s team also finished fourth after recording an aggregate score of 1719-44x.
Vietnam won bronze with 1719-46x. China took gold with 1735-56x, while South Korea secured silver with 1730-55x.
India continues kabaddi title defence
The women’s kabaddi team maintained its winning run with a 37-23 victory over Iran in its second Group A match at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
India had opened its campaign with a win over Bangladesh.
The defending champions will face Japan in their final Group A match on Thursday. The fixture will determine their place in the semifinal.
Ankush advances in boxing
India also progressed in boxing as Ankush reached the men’s 80kg quarterfinals.
He defeated Bahrain’s Hamsa Vogel 5-0 to move into the last eight.
Several Indian rowers and canoeists also advanced to later rounds or finals.
The men’s badminton team remained in medal contention after defeating Japan. India, already assured of a medal, faced defending champions China in the semifinal later on Wednesday.
India in 11-medal mark
India began Wednesday with winning one gold, five silver and five bronze medals, so far.
The latest results added four more medals, so far, through weightlifting, soft tennis and shooting. Indian athletes also continued to make progress across kabaddi, boxing, badminton, rowing and canoeing.
As per the figures provided, India has now won 11 medals at the 2026 Asian Games. The tally comprises one gold, five silver and four bronze medals.
The results from Wednesday further broadened India’s medal spread across disciplines as competition continues in Aichi-Nagoya. (With IANS inputs)
