India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships received a major boost on May 11 as rising lifter Komal Kohar clinched two bronze medals in the women’s 48kg category in Gandhinagar, ending the country’s three-year wait for a podium finish at the continental meet. The young weightlifter delivered a composed and confident performance at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, announcing herself as one of India’s promising names in the sport.
Competing in front of a home crowd, Kohar secured a bronze medal in the clean and jerk segment with a successful lift of 99kg and added another bronze in the overall standings with a combined effort of 177kg. She narrowly missed out on a medal in the snatch category, finishing fourth after lifting 78kg.
Her medal-winning performance came at a crucial moment for Indian weightlifting, especially after Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu was ruled out of the championships because of a shoulder injury. Kohar was drafted into the Indian squad as Chanu’s replacement and grabbed the opportunity impressively against a highly competitive Asian field.
The Asian Weightlifting Championships, being held in Gandhinagar from May 11 to 17, have attracted some of the continent’s top athletes, including Olympic and world medallists from 28 nations. The tournament also serves as an important qualification event ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and future Olympic qualification cycles.
Kohar began her snatch campaign steadily, successfully clearing 75kg in her opening attempt. She then failed at 78kg on her second try but showed strong composure to nail the same weight in her final attempt, which helped her finish fourth in the discipline.
In the clean and jerk, the Indian lifter looked more assured. She opened with a successful 94kg lift before improving to 99kg in her second attempt, a lift that eventually secured her bronze medal in the category. Kohar attempted 101kg in her final lift in an effort to climb higher on the standings, but could not complete it successfully.
Her total lift of 177kg was slightly below her personal best of 182kg, which she had achieved earlier this year at the National Weightlifting Championships in Modinagar. However, considering the pressure of competing at a major continental championship and stepping into the team following Chanu’s withdrawal, the performance reflected maturity and potential.
Interestingly, Kohar had also competed alongside Mirabai Chanu at the National Championships earlier this year, where Chanu broke three national records in the 48kg category with a total lift of 205kg. Kohar had finished on the podium there as well, underlining her growing consistency in domestic competition.
India’s last medal at the Asian Weightlifting Championships had come three years ago, making Kohar’s achievement even more significant for the host nation. Indian weightlifting has witnessed a rebuilding phase in recent years, with experienced athletes dealing with injuries and younger lifters gradually stepping into the spotlight.
Kohar’s performance now offers renewed optimism for the country ahead of a packed international calendar. The 2026 edition of the championships is particularly important as it is the first Asian Championships to be conducted under the International Weightlifting Federation’s revised weight categories. The women’s 48kg category has gained added attention following the reshuffling of Olympic divisions, with several athletes transitioning into new competitive brackets.
For Kohar, the medals in Gandhinagar could prove to be a turning point in her career. Competing on one of Asia’s biggest stages, she showcased resilience after early setbacks and demonstrated the temperament required at the elite level. With India looking to strengthen its weightlifting bench strength beyond Mirabai Chanu, performances like these could play a key role in shaping the nation’s future prospects in the sport.
The home crowd in Gandhinagar erupted in applause after Kohar’s successful 99kg clean and jerk lift, celebrating not just a medal-winning moment but also the arrival of another Indian talent capable of carrying the country’s weightlifting ambitions forward.
