In the Tokyo Olympics weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu opened up India’s tally, winning a silver medal in her event.
A new Olympic record was registered by Mirabai Chanu with a triumphant lift of 115kg. Meanwhile, paddler Manika Batra cruised into the Singles Round 2. Mirabai Chanu gave India its first medal at Tokyo 2020 as she won the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category while China’s Zhihu Hou took gold lifting 94kg to build an Olympic record.
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (born 8 August 1994) is an Indian weightlifter.[2] She won Silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Women’s 49 kg, bringing India its first medal in the event. A regular presence in international events since 2014 in the 48 kg category, Chanu has won the World Championships and multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games. She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions to the sport. She was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award by the Government of India in 2018.
Chanu had won the silver medal in the women’s 48 kg weight class at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow; she went on to break the games record en route to the gold medal at the 2018 edition of the event held in Gold Coast. Her biggest achievement came in 2017 when she won the gold medal at World Weightlifting Championships held in Anaheim, United States.
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was born on 8 August 1994 in Nongpok Kakching, Imphal, Manipur, to a Meitei family. Her family identified her strength from an early age when she was just 12. She could easily carry an enormous bundle of firewood to her home which her elder brother found it hard to even lift.