Komal Kohar got the opportunity to participate in the Asian Weightlifting Championship 2026 because Olympian Mirabai Chanu opted out of the tournament as she is still recovering from an injury. Komal made the most of the chance by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 48kg event in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Monday.
Komal finished third in the competitive field with a total lift of 177kg (78kg snatch + 99kg clean and jerk). Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yi-Chen won gold with a total lift of 193kg (81kg+112kg), while her compatriot Fang Wan-Ling took silver with 192kg (84kg+108kg).
Komal opened with 75kg in the snatch and improved to 78kg on her third attempt after failing the mark on her second lift. She had the fourth-best snatch in the field. In the clean and jerk, the Indian weightlifter successfully lifted 94kg and 99kg in her first two attempts. She then attempted 101kg but could not complete the lift.
However, it was enough for her to leapfrog the Philippines’ Rose Jean Ramos, who lifted a total of 176kg (81kg+95kg), to the third spot and clinch bronze. She also won the bronze in the clean and jerk section.
At the Asian Championships, separate medals are awarded for each of the two weightlifting sections in addition to the overall lift.
Rishikanta Singh withdraws
Meanwhile, Rishikanta Singh Chanambam struck out in the men’s 60kg division. After managing a best snatch of 115kg with his first effort and then failing both his attempts at 118kg, the Indian lifter withdrew from the clean and jerk section.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Pang Un-chol won the gold medal in the category while Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniqkasdan and Vietnam’s Lai Gia Thanh secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 is being held in India for only the second time. New Delhi hosted the event previously in 1982. A 16-member Indian team is competing at the continental championships in Gandhinagar. The meet, which ends on May 17, will be on break on Tuesday.
Three Indian lifters – Gyaneshwari Yadav (women’s 53kg), Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships silver medallist Bindyarani Devi (women’s 58kg) and Raja Muthupandi (men’s 65kg) will compete on Wednesday.
