The 2026 Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships commenced on Sunday at the Mahatma Mandir & Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, bringing together 178 elite athletes from 28 Asian nations and two Commonwealth countries in one of India’s biggest international sporting events of the year.
India celebrated a historic opening day as Komal Kohar clinched the Bronze Medal in the Women’s 48 kg category, delivering one of the most significant podium finishes for Indian women’s weightlifting at the Senior Asian Championships in recent years. Her achievement marked a proud moment for Indian sports and provided a strong start for the host nation at the continental event, which also serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
In the Women’s 48 kg category, athletes from Chinese Taipei dominated the competition. Yi Chen Huang secured the Gold Medal with a total lift of 193 kg, while Wan Ling Fang claimed Silver with a total of 192 kg. Komal Kohar finished third with a combined lift of 177 kg, including an impressive 99 kg in Clean & Jerk.
The opening day also witnessed record-breaking performances in the Men’s 60 kg category, where DPR Korea’s Un Chol Pang delivered a sensational performance to win Gold with a total lift of 304 kg. He also created new World and Asian Records in the Clean & Jerk event with a massive 174 kg lift, highlighting the exceptional level of competition at the championships.
Malaysia’s Bin Kasdan Mohamad Aniq secured the Silver Medal with a total of 277 kg, while Vietnam’s Gia Thanh Lai claimed Bronze with 267 kg.
