Mirabai Chanu ended India’s 21-year wait for a medal in the Olympic Games weightlifting event and opened the country’s account at the Tokyo Olympics by winning a silver medal in the 49kg event.Chanu won the silver medal in clean and jerk by lifting a total of 202 kg from 115 kg and 87 kg in snatch. Earlier, Karnam Malleswari had won the country a bronze medal in weightlifting at the Sydney Olympics 2000.
Hou Zhioui of China won the gold medal with a total of 210 kg (94 kg in snatch, 116 kg in clean and jerk). Indonesia’s Aisah Windi Kantika won the bronze medal by lifting a total of 194 kg.
PM Modi has congratulated Mirabai Chanu. He tweeted that India is excited by Mirabai Chanu’s stellar performance. Congratulations to him for winning the silver medal in weightlifting. His success inspires every Indian.
Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu’s stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/B6uJtDlaJo
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— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021
This is the first time that India won a medal on the first day of the Olympics. Mirabhai is the first Indian to win a silver medal in weightlifting. Mirabai made up for the disappointing performance of the 2016 Rio Olympics by winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Mirabai, the only weightlifter to have qualified for Tokyo, failed to qualify in any of her three clean and jerk attempts at the Rio Olympics.
Mirabai also holds a world record in clean and jerk in women’s 49 kg category. He lifted 119 kg in his final tournament Asian Championship before the Tokyo Olympics and won gold in this category and bronze in overall weight.
