Photo Courtesy: nenews
Imphal: Olympic weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu touched down at Imphal International Airport on Thursday. She brought home a silver medal from the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Crowds gathered to cheer. The homecoming was a loud, traditional affair. Local artistes played drums and pena as family, officials, and supporters swarmed the tarmac.
Chanu lifted 198kg in the 49kg category. That included 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk. This victory ended a 28-year wait for an Indian weightlifting medal at the Asian Games. The last medal came from Karnam Malleswari in 1998. This win completes Chanu’s collection of major international hardware, including medals from the Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
She arrived in India on September 29, passing through New Delhi before heading home. Attendees at the airport included her parents, local MLA Kh Ibomcha Singh, Youth Affairs and Sports Department officials, and Superintendent of Police (Sports) Laishram Sarita. Sarita, a former international boxer, noted that Manipur’s culture encourages children to chase their dreams regardless of gender. The state is celebrating a wave of success, including performances by Chanambam Rishikanta Singh, Mayengbam Jadumani Singh, Sorokhaibam Bindyarani Devi, and wushu athlete Naorem Roshibina Devi.
Chanu credited her mother, Tombi Saikhom, for her resilience. She also thanked her coaches and the public. "Without the love and support of the people of the state, it would not have been possible for me to reach this level," Chanu said. She plans to stay in Manipur for one week. Then, she heads back to training to begin qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Updated at 1st October 2026 at 9:53pm
Chanu holds four medals from the Commonwealth Games, including three gold. Beyond her recent homecoming, the state government remains active in recognizing the success of its athletes. On October 1, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh met with both Chanu and wushu silver medalist Naorem Roshibina Devi at his secretariat to praise their discipline and performance.
The accolades continued at police headquarters, where Director General of Police Mukesh Singh honored both athletes for their service. Chanu, who serves as an Additional SP (Sports), and Roshibina, a Deputy SP (Sports), each received a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh. During the ceremony, the DGP announced that the department is drafting new policy measures to better recognize and support high-performing athletes within the police ranks.
Updated at 2nd October 2026 at 1:47am
Wushu fighter Naorem Roshibina Devi made history as the first Indian athlete in her sport to medal at three straight Asian Games, following her 2018 bronze and 2023 silver. Chanu noted that her recent homecoming marked her first return to the state since competing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh is now pushing to build sports complexes outside the capital. Citing heavy congestion in Imphal, the Chief Minister said the state plans to shift focus toward rural infrastructure to make training more accessible. He also indicated that future financial rewards for medalists could increase if the local law and order situation improves.
Separately, the Chief Minister attended the Golden Jubilee of the Chingamathak College Road Youths Development Association on October 1. He credited local clubs for identifying and backing young talent from economically struggling families, calling these grassroots groups a bedrock of the state sporting culture.
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