Ajith Narayana clinches bronze as India extends medal streak at Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026

India continued its impressive run at the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 as Ajith Narayana secured a bronze medal in the men’s 71 kg category in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Thursday. He finished with a total lift of 314 kg, comprising 140kg in snatch and 174kg in clean and jerk, to claim the overall bronze medal. He also earned a bronze in the clean and jerk section.

At the Asian Championships, medals are awarded separately for snatch, clean &jerk, and overall total.

The Indian lifter began strongly by clearing 140kg in his opening snatch attempt but failed to lift 144kg in his next two tries, ending the snatch segment in fifth place. Needing a strong comeback in clean & jerk to reach the podium, Ajith delivered under pressure with successful lifts of 165kg, 169kg and 174kg in succession.

His final total helped him edge Uzbekistan’s Matrasulov Khusinboy by just one kilogram for the bronze medal.

The gold medal went to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Juri Won with a combined lift of 351kg (154kg+197kg), while China’s Chen Jian took silver with 335kg (155kg+180kg).

Meanwhile, Nirupama Devi Seram finished fourth in the women’s 63kg event with a total lift of 215kg, including 92kg in snatch and 123kg in clean and jerk.

Competing in the same championship, Ajaya Babu Valluri and Bedabrat Bharali were unable to register successful lifts in the men’s 79kg category.

Earlier in the tournament, Komal Kohar opened India’s medal tally with two bronze medals in the women’s 48kg category, while Gyaneshwari Yadav claimed overall bronze and snatch silver in the women’s 53kg event.