Mirabai Chanu & Her Olympics Journey

Mirabai Chanu has made her mark on the global map as an Indian weight lifter. In the year 2020, she won the first medal (silver) in the Women’s 49 kg category at Tokyo Olympics. If you search for Mirabai Chanu medal, you will come across abundant information as she has won several of them at various international championships. Her success story in the weight lifting segment has given her immense recognition from the Indian Government. She is ranked as the second weight lifter to receive an Olympic medal after a distant win by Karnam Malleswari, who won a bronze medal (69 kg category) in the 2000 Sydney Games.

Early Life

If you type Mirabai Chanu state, you will learn that she belongs to a small town Nongpok Kakching in Imphal’s East district in Manipur. She was born on 8th August 1994. Interestingly, she won her first gold medal at a meagre age of 11 years in a locally held weightlifting competition. In the field of weight lifting, she has always considered Kunjarani Devi as her idol. From lifting firewood as a toddler, this incredibly talented woman made her way into World Championships as a weightlifter, breaking many records and highlighting her talent as an Indian weightlifter. Her journey began at a very young age. She wanted to pursue archery as she could not meet the height criteria. Fortunately, her talent was recognized by a former international weightlifter, Anita Chanu, after which she trained at a sports academy in her town, Manipur. She would hitch rides from truck drivers and after she won her Olympic medal, she remembered to pay them her share of gratitude by touching their feet.

Family Background

It would put anyone to wonder why this internationally recognized weightlifter does not hold any background in sports. Mirabai Chanu hails from a humble family where her mother sold samosas and her father was a Government employee. She has five siblings and is the youngest child in her family. While she was training, her nutrition chart comprised of chicken and milk which she could not afford regularly, owing to the financial conditions in her family. However, her family supported her dream of weightlifting. The logs of wood that her brother would find difficult to carry would be easily carried by her back home. She was also known as the ‘heavy weightlifter’ in the family. No wonder you her name is well paired as ‘Mirabai Chanu weightlifting’.

Weightlifting Career

Her career began with the Glasgow Commonwealth Games where she marked her first achievement by winning a silver medal in the 48 kg category. While Mirabai Chanu also participated in the Rio Olympics, she did not succeed with the lifts.

In the year 2017, Mirabai Chanu proved her mettle at the World Weightlifting Championships, Anaheim, CA, USA. She won a Gold Medal by lifting a total of 194 kg weight and 109 kg in clean and jerk.

In the year 2018, she represented India and won the first gold medal for the country in the Commonwealth Games by lifting 86 kg in Snatch and 110 kg in the Clean and Jerk category, adding up to a total of 196 kg. She also broke the record in the 48 kg weight category.

In the year 2019, she lifted 201 kg weight and stood fourth at the World Weightlifting Championships. She also created a new record in the 49 kg section.

Mirabai broke her own record just four months later at the Senior National Weightlifting Championships in the 49 kg section and won a gold medal.

In the year, 2020, Mirabai Chanu lifted 202 kg in the 49 kg section at the Summer Olympics held in Tokyo.

In April 2021, she earned the bronze medal by lifting a total of 205 kg at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships. In the clean and jerk section, Mirabai set a world record in the clean and jerk by lifting 119 kg in the clean and jerk.

Silver Medal Winning Performance at Tokyo Olympics

In the series of attempts, Chanu’s first lift was 84 kg in the snatch event. However, in the second attempt, she lifted 87 kg, however in the third attempt she did not succeed in lifting 89 kg. She lifted a total of 202 kg weight and finished the event which earned her a silver medal in the 49 kg category.

Chanu made a glorious name for herself as the first weightlifter who won silver at the Olympics. She became the second Indian woman to win an Olympic silver after P.V. Sindhu and the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal after her idol, Karnam Malleswari. She also set a new Olympic record by lifting 115 kg in clean and jerk. It is because of Mirabai Chanu that India bagged its first medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

She made headlines by setting a new record for the country and displaying a competitive spirit at the international platform. Search for ‘Mirabai Chanu Olympics’ and learn how she created history as an Indian weight lifter.

Awards and Achievements

Mirabai Chanu received an award of ₹ one crore after winning the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, 2020. She was also congratulated for this win by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. A sum of ₹ two crores was also announced by the Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnav. She also declared a promotion for her. She currently serves as the ASP (Additional Superintendent – Sports) in Manipur Police.

The incredibly talented weightlifter has been rewarded by various organizations like BYJUs, the Government of Manipur, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Indian Olympic Association.

She has also been awarded the fourth highest civilian award of India, the Padma Shri and the highest sporting honour, i.e. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.

Shumang Leela which is a traditional form of theatre in North East India was also released in Manipur based on Mirabai Chanu’s life. It was titled as Mei Iklaba Thamoi.

How she is an Inspiration for Every Indian Girl

Mirabai Chanu has broken the shackles merely through her passion for weightlifting. She beat all the odds of success despite coming from a family where she had no exposure to sports. Despite her financial situation, she remained undeterred and continued to walk on the path of pursuing her career. She proved her mettle at every championship that she participated in, always with the aim of outdoing her own performance. She is a true inspiration to all the women in India to not let anything define them and use all physical, emotional, and mental powers to achieve anything in life. If a girl like Mirabai, whose height is 4’11 inches can win a medal at the Olympics or World Championship despite all odds, any woman can determine anything she wants in her life.

Conclusion

Fortunate are those who understand their purpose of life at an age as early as Mirabai Chanu. She participated in a local weightlifting competition and won. That was just the start of her bright career holding to which she went on to make her country proud at the Olympics and many more World Championships. Mirabai Chanu has certainly given hope to so many women across the country with her dedication.

FAQs

1. Who is Mirabai Chanu?

Mirabai Chanu, also Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is an Indian weight lifter who won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the Women’s 49 kg category. She has represented India at the largest World Championships and international weightlifting platforms.

2. Which awards has she received?

She has received the Padma Shri and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, which are conferred upon by the Government of India.