Manipur Cabinet To Extend ₹10 Lakh Incentive To Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu

₹10 Lakh Incentive To Mirabai Chanu: In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the cabinet of Manipur has decided to extend a one-time incentive of ₹10 lakh to the Tokyo Olympics qualifying weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh and Works Minister Th Biswajit Singh, the State Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, and Principal Secretary of Health & Welfare, V Vumlunmang.

On Saturday, June 12, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) confirmed that the star Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has qualified for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in the women's 49kg category.

The Chief Minister of the state congratulated the world champion weightlifter for her entry into the Tokyo Olympics which is scheduled to begin next month in July.

Chanu is India's only entry in weightlifting for Tokyo Olympics and has gathered a total of 4133,6172 Robi points to be ranked second after China's Hou Zhihui (4926, 4422) in the IWF ranking published recently. She was previously ranked fourth, but the withdrawal of North Korea from the Olympics lifted her to second place, which gained her an automatic qualification in the tournament.

In April, Chanu lifted a total of 250kg to secure a bronze medal in the Asian Championships. In the tournament, Chanu also broke a world record by lifting 119 kg in clean and jerk weightlifting. She is currently training in the USA.

Tokyo Olympics will be Chanu's second appearance in Olympics. Five years ago, she participated in the Rio Olympics where she failed to lift any weights in clean and jerk weightlifting.

Who is Mirabai Chanu?

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is an Indian weightlifter who hails from Nongpok Kakching, Imphal, Manipur. The star weightlifter has won a Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and a Silver Medal in 2014. She has also won a Gold Medal at the 2017 Anaheim World Championship in the 48kg category. In 2018, Chanu was awarded the Khel Ratna Award by President Ram Nath Kovind.