Who is Saikhom Mirabai Chanu?

Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was born on August 8, 1994 in Nongpok Kakching village of Imphal East district in Manipur, she is the youngest of five siblings.

 

Chanu hails from a family of eight members, most of whom are into agricultural work. Since her childhood, she gained her strength by carrying the firewood up and down the hills along with her family members.

Mirabai Chanu won a silver in the women's 49kg category at Tokyo International Forum. Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts during the competition. She is the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari clinched a bronze medal in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games.

 

The 26-year-old was the first and the only Indian weightlifter to qualify for Tokyo Olympics 2021.

 

In the past, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu participated in the Rio Olympics in 2016. However, she could not complete the tournament as she failed to manage any successful lifts in the clean and jerk category.

 

She made a world record by lifting 119 kg in the clean and jerk section at the Asian Championships in 2020, where she won a bronze medal.

 

In the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Chanu lifted 170kg to win a silver medal, she then won gold at the 2016 Senior Nationals.

 

She also won a gold medal in the 2017 World Championships and even at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

 

in 2018, Mirabai Chanu was awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honour in India and with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of the country.