Who is Mirabai Chanu, The Tokyo 2020 Silver Medalist Weightlifter Aiming For Gold at Paris Olympics 2024?

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India's weightlifting sensation from Manipur, Mirabai Chanu, made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning a silver medal in the women's 49kg event. Her remarkable achievement made her the second Indian female weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win an Olympic weightlifting medal.

Chanu's performance in Tokyo was outstanding, with a total lift of 202 kg - 87 kg in the snatch and 115 kg in the clean and jerk - echoing Malleswari's bronze-winning effort at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Now 29, Mirabai is heading to Paris Olympics 2024 with the ambition of securing a gold medal. Her journey to Paris has been filled with challenges. In 2022, she suffered a significant setback at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, where she injured her hip, resulting in hip tendonitis.

This injury forced her to take a break from competition and focus on her recovery. During this period, she could only perform upper-body exercises and relied heavily on emotional support from her mother, who traveled to Patiala to be with her.

After a six-month hiatus, Mirabai returned to the competitive stage at the IWF World Cup. Despite the limited preparation, she managed a combined lift of 184 kg (81 kg in snatch and 103 kg in clean and jerk), finishing 12th. Although this was her lowest total in years, it was enough to secure her qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Mirabai's list of accolades is impressive. She received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2018 and was honored with the Padma Shri the same year. She also boasts a gold medal from the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim and a silver from the 2022 World Championships in Bogota.

Additionally, she has consistently performed well at the Commonwealth Games, winning gold in 2022 and 2018, and silver in 2014. Her recent performance at the IWF World Cup was her only competition this year, where she finished 12th with a total of 184 kg.

Despite this, her qualification for the Paris Olympics is a testament to her resilience and determination. Mirabai is aiming for a 90 kg snatch and an improved clean and jerk lift in Paris.

Her training regimen is focused on achieving these goals, with the guidance of national coach Vijay Sharma and conditioning coach Dr. Aaron Horschig. As Mirabai Chanu prepares to compete in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event on August 7, her story of perseverance and dedication continues to inspire wiith her eyes set on gold this time.