Mirabai Chanu’s hard work, patience, and dedication shined at the stage of the Tokyo Olympics 2021 when she won the first medal for India in the event. The Silver girl has now become an inspiration for the young generation of the country.
The 26-year old Chanu’s journey from Manipur to Tokyo was not ordinary. She made sacrifices, underwent criticism, and trained herself as a beast to make the country proud.
Here is everything to know about the first Silver medalist at Summer Olympics 2020.
Who Is Mirabai Chanu? Know The Silver Girl Of India
Mirabai Chanu Birthday And Family
This feeling of meeting my family after a long span of 2 years is beyond words. I’m grateful to each one of you for showing faith in me and supporting me. Thank you Ema and baba for all the sacrifices you made for me to reach at this level. pic.twitter.com/RlXby6QoOv
— Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 28, 2021
S. MirabaiChanu was born on 8th August to Sikhom Kriti Meiti and Saikohm Ongbi Tomni Leima. She is the youngest among 6 children and hails from Nongpok Kakching district of East Imphal.
Mirabai was a strong kid with immense strength and stamina. Her parents realized it when she lifted the heavy bundle of firewood with ease and carried it home from their paddy field. But she realized her dream when she watched Kunjarani Devi lifting heavyweights swiftly.
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N.Kunjarani Devi is one of the most renowned women weightlifters in the history of sports and India. She is the inspiration and idol of Mirabai Chanu.
Mirabai Chanu Height
via:theindianexpress
Height doesn’t matter to create history and Mirabai has proved this. She is 4 ft and 11 inches in height.
Weightlifting Journey And First Career Breakthrough
via:olympics
2014 Commonwealth Games proved a breakthrough for Mirabai when she won the first silver medal. However, she had clinched several significant medals before 2014 at Youth Championships, South Asian Junior Games, and Junior National Championship.
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2016 Rio Olympics Changed Mirabai’s Life
via:thenewindianexpress
She was doing well at every national and international platform until the 2016 Rio Olympics. Mirabai failed to win a medal in the 48kg weightlifting category. This proved a turning point in her career when she broke down and even thought of quitting.
Record-Breaking Performances Of Mirabai Chanu
After losing at Rio Olympics, Mirabai trained hard and made a great comeback. She not only won silver and gold at the international level but also set new records. Here is the full list.
Relive the winning moment:
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu – Olympic silver medallist 🇮🇳#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/5lef68FAft
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) July 25, 2021
• The 2017 World Weightlifting Championship was a new beginning where she had to prove herself. She won gold in the 194kg category and made history as India did not win any gold in the event for more than 20 years.
• Mirabai Chanu gave her career’s best performance in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Queensland, Australia. She broke all records in the 196 kg category and won gold.
• Next year in the world weightlifting championship, she set a new record by lifting 201 kg weight. Though she finished fourth, she was determined to break all records.
• After 4 months Mirabai stunned everyone at the Senior National Weightlifting Championship by lifting 203 kgs weight.
• This broke all her previous records in weightlifting. In the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championship, Mirabai made a world record in the women’s category by lifting 205 kg.
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List Of National Awards Won By Mirabai Chanu
via:freepressjournal
• She was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2018
• Honored with highest civilian award Padma Shri in 2018
Apart from these national awards, she has also received a cash prize worth Rs. 1 crore from the State Government. Moreover, she got a job promotion in Indian Railways and felicitated with a Rs 2 Crore reward.
It was a wonderful to attend the felicitation programme of Ms Saikhom Mirabai Chanu organised by the Manipur PCC.
The silver medal Olympic winner has brought laurels to the state and the country. #Tokyo2020 @mirabai_chanu pic.twitter.com/GNDCR4b3IW
— Gaikhangam (@Gaikhangam2) July 29, 2021
Mirabai Chanu has won a total of 2 gold, 2 silver, and one bronze at the international level including the silver at the 2020 Summer Tokyo Olympics. She is coached by Vijay Sharma.