Weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics: Twitterati storms as Mirabai Chanu clinches the first medal for India

Weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics: Twitterati storms as Mirabai Chanu clinches the first medal for India

Mirabai Chanu

Ace weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has brought a smile to every Indian’s face with a silver medal on day two of the Tokyo Olympics 2021. The 26-year-old clinched this glory in the 49 kg category event. Also, Chanu became the first Indian athlete, after Karnam Malleshwari, to win a medal in weightlifting since the Sydney Games 2000. 

The Imphal-born defied all odds after her miserable performance at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Coming to her performance in Tokyo, Chanu went for 84 kg in her first attempt of snatch and pulled it off with relative ease following a great recovery.

She was further successful in adding three kilograms to her tally in her second attempt before failing to lift in 89 kg in her third and final attempt. 

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The Manipuri athlete lifted 115 kg in the clean and jerk to secure second place behind China’s champion weightlifter Hou Zhihui. The latter also went on to set the Olympic Record (OR) with a 116 kg clean and jerk lift.

In the end, Chanu secured silver while China’s Zhihui won the gold medal and Indonesia’s Windy Cantika Aisah won the bronze medal.

Here’s the moment when Mirabai Chanu wrote her name in the books of history for many years to come:

Soon after Chanu confirmed her second spot, Twitter users erupted to congratulate her on this miraculous achievement. 

Let’s look at some of the top wishes for India’s number one medalist from Tokyo 2020:

Right from PM Narendra Modi to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, plenty of ace politicians took to the micro-blogging site for congratulating Chanu. India’s current Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs alongside Kiren Rijiju, who had earlier held this position, also joined this list on Twitter.

Former cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag with Ravi Ashwin and Krunal Pandya from the current lot also sent their wishes for Mirabai Chanu.

Popular film celebrities like Riteish Deshmukh & Mahesh Babu and popular Youtube Gaurav Taneja also wrote heartfelt messages for India’s glorious athlete.

Also Read | WATCH: Mirabai Chanu’s family erupts in joy after she won the silver medal at Tokyo Olympics

Also Read | Weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics 2020: Mirabai Chanu scripts history, bags India’s first medal at the Games