Paris Olympics: Mirabai Chanu Always 'Peaks at Big Stage', Says Weightlifting Legend Karnam Malleswari

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Paris Olympics 2024 is just a stone's throw away and Indian Olympics fans are waking up from the hibernation to watch the quadrennial multi-sport extravaganza with medals awaiting following the highs of T20 World Cup triumph. Likes of Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu have renewed fans' hope for Olympic glory and weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu is right up there with them in that elite bracket.

Following her Tokyo 2020 silver, a first in weightlifting, the 29-year-old lifter Mirabai Chanu, who holds the national record with a total lift of 205kg in 2020, is a favourite to repeat her feat. And India's weightlifting legend Karnam Malleswari sees it as a matter of pride that Mirabai is carrying forward the legacy of Indian weightlifting.

"It is a matter of pride that we don't just have Mirabai Chanu but have so many elite athletes who can win medals in Paris," the 49-year-old legend told myKhel. "I will be happy to see each medal won and being celebrated. The Olympics is the pinnacle of sports and each Indian will pray for the success. For me, sports is part of my life. I wish India attains greater heights."

Medal Within Grabs for Mirabai Chanu Amid Asian Games Nightmares

An Olympic medal in Paris, in fact could be a sitting duck for Mirabai Chanu with North Korea's World Record Holder Ri-Song Gum ruled out of the 49kg showdown after missing out on mandatory events to qualify for Paris due to the ban on their Olympic committee till 2022. Ri-Song Gum, otherwise, was seen as the favourite for the gold medal following her humongous lift of 221kg at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in April.

The one-athlete-per-nation rule further reduced Mirabai Chanu's competition as China's Jhang Huihua (former world record holder at 215kg) failed to make the cut based on ranking to her compatriot and reigning Olympic Champion Hou Zhihui.

Zhihui, in fact, is a strong favourite to retain her title once again following a massive lift of 217kg while her 97kg world record lift in the snatch category is way out of the reach of Mirabai, whose best in snatch is 88kg.

However, the silver medal spot is comfortably within Mirabai Chanu's reach as being close to her national record of 205kg could be enough on the decisive day with the bronze-medal favourite Romanian Mihaela Cambei has never gone beyond 200kg in the 49kg category (199kg at European Championship 2024).

That doesn't mean Mirabai Chanu has no further trouble. This may worry her fans that since her 201kg effort at the Commonwealth Games 2022, Mirabai Chanu has struggled with injuries and has been far from her best at the Olympic Qualifying events. She is currently ranked 13th in the IWLF's Olympic Ranking list with a total lift of a mere 184kg.

Not to forget her troubles with injuries at major events in the past as the injury-prone nature of weightlifting saw Mirabai Chanu falter at the Asian Games 2023, bringing back the horrific memories of Rio Olympics 2016. Alike Paris, she was a strong favourite for a medal on Olympic debut but failed to register a single lift after three foul attempts.

Her coach Vijay Sharma, however, has rest assured to the website in an interview earlier that his disciple Mira is fit as a horse and is raring to go at the Paris Olympics. Karnam Malleswari too has no doubt in the calibre of the weightlifter as she reckoned it's Mirabai Chanu's medal to take.

"Injuries are part of the game but each time Mirabai has fought back so strongly. Her training is very hard and she has ensured she will peak on the big stage. I don't think what happened with her in the last Asian Games in China will affect her. She is very strong in the mind and has spent time in strengthening," said India's first woman to win an Olympic medal.

As the Paris Olympics approach, the anticipation surrounding Mirabai Chanu's performance is palpable. With the unwavering support of legends like Karnam Malleswari and the backing of her rigorous training regimen, Mirabai is poised to overcome her past challenges and shine on the grandest stage of all.

The weightlifting community and the entire nation will be watching closely, hopeful and proud, as Mirabai strives to add another historic medal to India's Olympic legacy. The journey has been arduous but with her resilience and determination, Mirabai Chanu is ready to make her mark once again.

Follow myKhel for all the Paris Olympics coverage as Mirabai Chanu will vie for second Olympic medal on August 7