It will be a Saturday to remember for the rest of her life. Mirabai Chanu wrote her name in the annals of the country’s sporting history by becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic silver medal. She is the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting, since Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the Sydney Games in 2000.
Mirabai lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This comes as a big achievement for Mirabai failed to log a single legitimate lift in Rio 2016 Olympics. The Manipuri took her time and cleanly heaved the barbell, attempting 84kg in her first snatch attempt. She then lifted 87kg in her next attempt and raised the weight to 89kg, which was one 1kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year.
Chanu’s smile on the podium was hidden due to the mask that she was wearing on her face, as part of the Covid-19 protocols at the Games, but those who know her and of her journey to this medal would know how big it would have been.
The Manipuri athlete, now 26, made her Olympics debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, as a young 21-year-old.
