
Mirabai Chanu earned a silver medal as India’s first medal of Tokyo Olympics 2020 at the Japanese capital International Forum weightlifting event of 49kg.
Mirabai held up a whole weight of 202 kgs to clinch the medal while the gold medal was earned by Hou Zhihui of China with a collective weight total of 210 kgs. As China seizes the gold medal, Indonesian Aisah Windy Cantika went home with the bronze medal in the achievement of 194kg (84kg 110kg).
The athlete from Manipur pulled a sum of 87 kgs in the snatch part of the competition that culminated with a boost of 115 kgs in clean and jerk as she becomes the second weightlifter from India to win an Olympic medal other than Karnam Malleswari.
Chanu has won the crown of the world champion in the past where she earned the gold medal in the 48kg section in Anaheim.
The reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the 48kg category, Chanu undertook 84kg in her first snatch try while she assessed her deficiency in the run-up to the marquee event but she resorted to her time and lifted 87kg in the next trial putting forward the strength to 89kg, one kg additional than her particular best of 88kg. At the national championship, the previous year, she had lifted a sum of 88kg.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated the athlete for the achievement.
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. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/B6uJtDlaJo
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021
Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning silver medal in weightlifting.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 24, 2021