Manipur’s 26-year-old Saikhom Mirabai Chanu finally overcame the horrors of her 2016 Olympics performance and made a splendid performance today to win the silver for India in weightlifting (Women’s 49 kg category) at the Tokyo Olympics, and her family could not be more proud.
In snatch, she successfully lifted 87kg in her second attempt while she could lift 115kg in clean and jerk, lifting a total of 202kgs making her eligible for the silver.
Needless to say, Mirabai Chanu’s family and close friends had been waiting for this day for long. Here are some pictures of her family and friends watching her match back in Manipur.
The gold went to China’s Hou Zhihui with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg) , while Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg).
Considered her weakness in the run up to the marquee event, Chanu attempted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. The Manipuri took her time and cleanly heaved the barbell.
She 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.
However, she was unable to better her personal best and settled for 87kg in the snatch event only behind leader Zhihui, who created a new Olympic record with an effort of 94kg.
The Chinese lifter also holds the world mark (96kg) in the category.
In the clean jerk, Chanu, the world record holder in the section, lifted 110kg and 115kg in the first two attempts.
However, she was unable to raise 117kg in her final attempt but it was enough to fetch her a medal and open India’s account.
(With inputs from PTI)
