India clinched a narrow podium finish in the women’s 53kg category at the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 in Gandhinagar. Gyaneshwari Yadav secured a silver medal in the snatch and a bronze in the overall total, missing a higher rank by just one kilogram.
The championships, hosting 178 elite athletes from 28 Asian nations and two Commonwealth countries at the Mahatma Mandir and Exhibition Centre since May 11, also serve as a pathway for qualification to the Commonwealth Games 2026.
In the women’s 53kg event, Jinlan Zhao of China claimed the gold medal with a total lift of 216kg. Vietnam’s Hoai Huong Nguyen secured the second position with 195kg, while India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav took bronze with a total of 194kg, closely behind Nguyen.
Yadav’s impressive 88kg snatch lift earned her the silver medal in that segment, following Zhao’s 95kg lift. The competition saw Zhao dominating the clean and jerk with a 121kg lift, securing her gold, while Nguyen’s 108kg lift placed her in the overall silver medal position.
The event highlighted the competitive standard of the field, with all three medal positions decided by marginal differences. Ashwani Kumar, CEO of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, praised Yadav’s performance, emphasizing India’s progress and competitiveness at the Asian level.
The federation commended Yadav and the Indian contingent, viewing the result as motivation for upcoming events in the championship. Officials mentioned that preparations across categories align with international standards, anticipating more medal opportunities as the competition progresses.
With multiple weight categories yet to be decided, the championships are expected to witness high-level performances as Asia’s top weightlifters vie for continental titles and qualification points in the coming days.
