Hero’s welcome for Mirabai
Her single-minded pursuit rewarded with a silver medal at the Olympics, Mirabai Chanu returned to the country from Tokyo to a rousing, and chaotic, welcome on Monday. Surrounded by paramilitary personnel at the IGI Airport here, the weightlifter soaked in every bit of the adulation in the same calm way that saw her lift 202kg on the way to the Games podium on Saturday. Covid protocols in Tokyo mean that an athlete can’t
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stay beyond 48 hours after her/ his respective event is over.
At a felicitation where Union sports minister Anurag Thakur and other dignitaries were present, Chanu said “this is a dream come true for me. I have been training for this moment for years. I am glad that it all came right for me at the biggest stage of them all, the Olympics.”
The 49kg weightlifter acknowledged that a late trip to the US right before the Olympics, in early May, helped her a lot. With the second wave of the pandemic raging in India at that time, she had to get special clearance for a second training stint with Dr Aaron Horschig, a renowned physiotherapist and strength-conditioning coach, which helped her iron out a few injury issues.
“The trip to USA last year to address issues related to my shoulder was instrumental in my journey to this medal. I am grateful for all the support extended by the government towards me, without which this journey to an Olympic medal would not have been possible,” Chanu, 26, said. The Manipuri weightlifter will be appointed as Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) in the state police department, according to chief minister N. Biren Singh. “Mirabai Chanu would also be rewarded with Rs 1 crore as announced by the government,” he said.
Also, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, tweeted: “It was great to meet and congratulate the pride of India and honour of Indian Rly, @mirabai_chanu. Also felicitated her & announced ₹2cr , a promotion and more.”