Mirabai Chanu Lifts Gold At Commonwealth Sr. Weightlifting Championship

Former World champion and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Mirabai Chanu won a gold on the opening day of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship on Tuesday. Indian has sent a power packed contingent which won 13 medals that included eight gold, three silver and two bronze medals in senior, junior and youth categories.

Mirabai lifted a total of 191kg (84kg + 107 kg) in the senior women's 49 kg event in the Olympic qualifying event. The points will reflect in the final rankings of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 25-year-old weightlifter from Manipur finished fourth in the 49kg event at the Asian Weightlifting Championship in April this year, where she lifted 199kg (86kg+113kg) but missed a medal by a whisker.

Mirabai was on a break for almost four months. Now, fully recovered from a severe lower back injury, the weightlifter stayed at a rehabilitation centre in Mumbai for months. Mirabai has now set a target for Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Mirabai’s injury

Mirabai was on a break for almost four months. Now, fully recovered from a severe lower back injury, the weightlifter stayed at a rehabilitation centre in Mumbai for months. Mirabai has now set a target for Tokyo Olympics 2020. “Every day before going to bed and before the start of my training, I look at the figure. I know it will not be possible for me to cross the 200 kg weight bar in the forthcoming Asian Championship. So I have set it for the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Looking at the figure every day I feel motivated,” she said, The Bridge reported.

She had earlier withdrawn from the 2018 Asian Games and World Championship, stating that she needed some time to prepare for the big Olympic qualifiers.

READ:Who Is Mirabai Chanu? Know More About This Manipuri Sensation

“More importantly they are going to be my opponents again in the upcoming international meets. So watching the top weightlifters on TV has helped me a lot in my preparation.” the Manipuri said earlier. She comes from a financially challenged family with her father working as a lower level employee at the Public Works Department in Imphal while her mother runs a small shop in their village.

“I have competed with Asian weightlifters at the Rio Olympics and 2017 World Championship. I have followed their performance at the Asian Games. All of them have matured a lot, changing their style and technique. It has helped me immensely after I resumed training.”

On resuming training, she said, “I have competed with Asian weightlifters at the Rio Olympics and 2017 World Championship. I have followed their performance at the Asian Games. All of them have matured a lot, changing their style and technique. It has helped me immensely after I resumed training.”

Career graph so far

Chanu began her weightlifting career in 2007 and came into limelight during the trials of Rio Olympics 2016 weightlifting event in Patiala where she broke the national record of her inspiration Kunjarana Devi. She won her first gold medal at the age of 11. In 2017, Mirabai became the first Indian in over two decades, ending India’s 22-year wait for World Championship gold. She won a gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championship in Anaheim, USA. She is also the second Indian to win a gold medal at the event, after Karnam Malleswari.

Her moment of pride came when clinched gold at the Commonwealth Senior Weightlifting Championships held in Australia, 2017. This earned her direct entry to the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Weightlifter also claimed a gold medal at the 12th South Asian Games in 2016. During 2014 Commonwealth games held in Glasgow, she bagged silver while competing in the 48 kg category.

Feature Image Credit: dailypasban.com

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