Silver lining: Sensational Chanu opens India’s medal account
CHANU LIFTS INDIAN SPIRITS ON OPENING DAY
■ Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in the Olympics
■ Chanu ended India’s 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49 kg category to open the country’s account in Tokyo
■ The diminutive iron lady from Manipur lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift, leaving her shattered.
■ Chanu later broke into a Punjabi bhangra too to celebrate the historic podium finish
■ The gold went to China’s Hou Zhihui with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg), who created Olympic records in all three categories (snatch, clean jerk and Total)
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu reacts after a successful attempt at Snatch in the womens 49kg weightlifting event in Tokyo on Saturday.
I am very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. I did try for gold but even silver is a great achievement for me," "I am very happy to win the first medal for India at these Games. I don't just belong to Manipur, I belong to the whole country, — Mirabai Chanu
Could not have asked for a happier start to Tokyo2020! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. — Narendra Modi
Tokyo, July 24: A confident smile never leaving her face, Mirabai Chanu ended India’s over two-decade long wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics, clinching the 49kg category silver medal five years after leaving the same platform in tears following a disastrous debut.
With her historic triumph, she ensured that India was second on the medals tally for a brief while, a feat that has never been achieved before by the country. It was also the first time that India managed to win a medal on the opening day competitions.
The diminutive iron lady from Manipur lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift, leaving her shattered.
“I am very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. I did try for gold but even silver is a great achievement for me,” Chanu told reporters after her career-defining triumph for which she had been training in the US for past few months.
The 2016 experience was a watershed in her career and Chanu had spoken about how confused she had felt during her debut at the biggest stage. There was none of those nerves to be seen on Saturday, just a very composed and focussed athlete who knew she was destined for the podium.
“I am very happy to win the first medal for India at these Games. I don’t just belong to Manipur, I belong to the whole country,” she said in response to a query on what it meant for her as a Manipuri.
“I would like to thank my coach Vijay Sharma andthe support staff for their continuous hard work, motivation and training,” she added.
Her smile shone the brightest during the entire performance on Saturday but also hard to miss were the Olympic rings’ shaped earrings that she was sporting, which were a gift from her mother.
“I would like to thank my family, especially my mother for a lot of sacrifices and believing in me,” she said.
The gold went to China’s Hou Zhihui with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg), who created Olympic records in all three categories (snatch, clean and jerk and Total).
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 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 and jerk, world record holder Chanu lifted 110kg and 115kg in the first two attempts.
However, she was unable to raise 117kg in her final attempt, which would have been an Olympic record but it was enough to fetch her a medal and open India’s account. The diminutive Mannipuri broke down after realising that she has secured a medal and hugged head coach Vijay Sharma in jubiliation.
She later broke into a punjabi bhangra too to celebrate the historic podium finish.
I AM very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. I did try for gold but even silver is a great achievement for me.
MIRABAI CHANU, Indian weightlifter
Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu’s stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian.
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. — President Ramnath Kovind
Twenty years after Sydney Olympics it was great to witness the event today. Congratulations #Mirabai Chanu. Weightlifting to be an integral part of the #DelhiSportsUniversity. — Karnam Malleswari former weightlifter who won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games and current vice-chancellor of Delhi Sports University.
During these rough times of the pandemic, when lives have come to an abrupt halt and mere survival has become an isolating task, victories such as yours will serve as a small reminder of the joy that hope and perseverance can bring. — Abhinav Bindra former India shooter, 2008 gold medallist
MIRABAI CHANU! Absolutely amazing display of weightlifting. The way you have transformed yourself after your injury and clinched a historic silver for #TeamIndia is absolutely stupendous. — Sachin Tendulkar cricket icon
Mirabai Chanu wins silver Medal in 49 kg Women’s Weightlifting and made India proud. — Sakshi Malik wrestler, 2016 bronze medallist
Ghazab. Bhartiya Naari Sab par Bhaari. #MirabaiChanu , remember the name. Thank you for making us all proud @mirabai_chanu, and winning us a Silver at the Olympics. Many more to come. #Tokyo2020. — Virender Sehwag former cricketer