Mirabai Chanu, who ended India’s 21-year wait for a medal in the Olympic weightlifting event, won a silver in the 49kg category, while her triumphant smile filled all the tears that poured into her eyes after her failure in Rio five years ago.
She had been weeping from the same stage after a disappointing debut in the great Games five years ago. Her historic win has pushed India to the second position in the medal tally, a feat the country had never achieved before.
The 26-year-old weightlifter from Manipur outperformed Karnam Malleswari’s bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics by a total of 202 kg (87 kg + 115 kg). This also left her behind the poor performance of Rio Olympics in 2016 in which she could not lift a single valid weight.
After this illustrious career win, Chanu told reporters, ‘I am very happy, I was dreaming of it for the last five years. I am feeling proud of myself at this time. I tried for gold medal but silver medal is also a big achievement for me.”
Asked what it means to be a Manipuri, she said, “I am very happy to win India’s first medal in these Games. I am not just from Manipur, I belong to the whole country.’ Chanu was full of confidence on Saturday and had a smile on her face throughout the performance. And in her ear were shining drops the size of an Olympic ring that her mother had presented to her.
Mirabai became the champion of Weightlifting Championship (48 kg) in 2017. She won the title in April this year by lifting 86 kg snatch and world record 119 kg weight. She won the bronze medal by lifting a total of 205 kg. Chanu’s 2016 Rio Olympics was disappointing. But after that she continuously improved her game.she won the gold medal at the World Championships in 2017 and the Commonwealth in 2018.
Mirabai Chanu first Instagram post after her in Tokyo Olympics –
Her Journey was definitely a dream come true –
Chanu thanks her coach –
