Saikhom Mirabai Chanu bags First Olympic medal for India

Weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting becoming the first and only female Indian weightlifter to compete at the 2021 Summer Olympics. Mirabai brought India’s first medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics finished second behind China’s Houjihui 210kg (94 & 116), who set an Olympic record in raises and lifted 202kg, 87kg in kidnapping and 115kg in clean and jerk. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated her winning the silver medal at the tournament, saying “India is pleased with a happier departure and great competitiveness.”

Mirabai Chanu was a women’s 49kg medal contender who set a new world record for clean & jock by lifting 119kg at the Asian Weightlifting Championships held in Tashkent in April 2021. 

Background and Achievements

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was born on August 8, 1994, in the Meitei family at Nongpok Kakching, Imphal, Manipur. Her family has confirmed her strengths since she was only 12 years old. The first amazing and important breakthrough of Chanu took place in the Glasgow version of the Commonwealth Games. She won a silver medal in the 48kg class category. In 2016, Chanu advanced to the finals in the Rio Olympics Women’s 48kg category. However, she failed as the lift was unsuccessful among her three attempts in the Clean & Jack section.

Chanu, who has regularly participated in international competitions in the 48kg category since 2014, has won several medals in the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships. She received the Padma Shri from the Government of India for her contribution to sports. She received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award from the Government of India in 2018. 

She broke the game record with a gold medal around her neck at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in the Gold Coast. The greatest achievement in her career till now was her gold medal at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, USA. 

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