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


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

Mirabai Chanu

India’s star weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu created history an became the first Indian to win an Olympic Medal on the first day of the competition. She opened India’s account at the Tokyo Olympics in the Women’s 49kg Flyweight category. She lifted 87 kgs on her second attempt in Snatch and lifted a whopping 115 kgs in the Clean and Jerk. With a combined weight of 202 kgs, she finished second, 8 kgs behind China’s Zhihui Hou who set a new Olympic record.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mirabai Chanu hails from Manipur and rightly so, her family and well wishers were seen cheering for her from her home soil. Her family was seen tensed and thrilled just before her attempt for Silver, and erupted in joy after she secured a Silver medal.

“We are very happy today. This is a result of her hard work. India and Manipur are proud of her,” one of her relative in Imphal said.

Chanu was second after the Snatch too but 7 kgs separated herself and the Chinese Hou. The gap closed drastically in Clean and Jerk, Chanu’s favorable routine, but Hou still managed to beat Chanu as the gap was too big realistically. It is to be noted that the Indian girl still has the world record of 119 kgs in the Clean and Jerk to her name.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chanu scripts history for India

Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu

Chanu’s result on the very first day of the Olympics has sent a wave of happiness in her home country. India had never won a medal on the first day of competition ever. This is also the country’s best result in weightlifting, the previous best being Karnam Malleswari‘s bronze at the Sydney games in 2000.

Chanu went into the games as one of the biggest medal hopes, given her recent performances this year, where she also broke the world record in the 49 kgs category.

ADVERTISEMENT

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