India made its weightlifting debut at the first Asian Games in 1951 in New Delhi, India. In those early years, Indian weightlifters performed admirably, but medals were uncommon. The 1980s and 1990s were pivotal years in Indian weightlifting.
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Lifters from India, like Karnam Malleswari and N. Kunjarani Devi, emerged as formidable challengers on the Asian and worldwide stages. Karnam Malleswari was the first Indian woman weightlifter to earn an Asian Games medal, taking bronze in the 54 kg event at the Hiroshima Asian Games in 1994.
During this time, Kunjarani Devi rose to prominence as one of India’s most successful weightlifters. She took home several medals at the Asian Games, including gold and silver. Her dominance was especially noticeable in the 48 kg and 54 kg weight classes.
India’s success in weightlifting at the Asian Games continued in the 2000s. Karnam Malleswari made history yet again when she won the gold medal in the 69 kg division in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.
The weightlifting adventure in India has continued, with new talent arriving on the scene. Mirabai Chanu rose to prominence after taking silver in the women’s 48 kg event at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. She continued her strong form by winning gold in the women’s 48 kg category at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.
At the Asian Games, India won a substantial number of weightlifting medals, including gold, silver, and bronze. Weightlifters from India have frequently demonstrated competition in the Asian arena, demonstrating the country’s rise as a sporting force to be reckoned with.
In the forthcoming Asian Games, Indian weightlifters will be dominant as usual. We saw in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics and Birmingham Commonwealth Games the strength and power of Indian lifters. We anticipate them to bring a lot of medals for the nation this year and achieve a great deal of success at the Asian Games in 2023.
