Olympics 2024: Mirabai Chanu Is The 1st Indian Weightlifter To Qualify

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, Mirabai Chanu once again proved her mettle and kept the country's head high on international grounds as she secured a lone spot amongst the Indian weightlifters in the Olympics 2024. Securing third place in the qualifying round, she punched her ticket to Paris.

Despite a brief hiatus due to injury and rehab, Chanu sored high as she managed to secure third position in the women's 49kg Group B of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup event which was the final and mandatory qualifier for the Paris Olympics. 

Mirabai Chanu - The Only Indian Weightlifter To Qualify For Olympics 2024

In a triumphant return from a six-month injury layoff, Mirabai Chanu, India's weightlifting star, has become the only Indian weightlifter to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024. Chanu secured her berth at the ongoing IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, which serves as the final and mandatory qualification event for the upcoming Games.

The 29-year-old Tokyo Olympics silver medalist showcased grit and determination, finishing third in Group B of the women's 49kg category. With a combined lift of 184kg (81kg snatch + 103kg clean and jerk), Chanu not only displayed her fighting spirit after a six-month injury layoff after she last competed in the Asian Games.

This accomplishment fulfils the requirement of participating in two mandatory events and three other qualifiers for the Paris Olympics. Chanu, a former world champion (2017), is currently ranked second in the Olympic Qualification Rankings (OQR) for the women's 49kg category, behind China's Jian HuiHua.

The official announcement from the IWF releasing the list of athletes will come after the conclusion of the qualifier rounds on April 28, where the top 10 lifters from each weight class will qualify for Paris, but for now, Chanu is the first and only Indian weightlifter to have already secured the spot.

Expressing her joy, Chanu stated, "The goal was to secure my spot for the Paris Olympics, and now that I am almost through, all my attention is on making a mark at Paris 2024."

Chanu's qualification brings immense pride to the Indian contingent and her journey back from injury and her performance is commendable, showcasing her determination for the sport. This will be Chanu's third appearance in the Olympics while the weightlifter has secured silver in the Tokyo Olympics, a gold in the Common Wealth Games, and a bronze in the Asian Games.