Tokyo Olympics: Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver In Weightlifting

Mirabai Chanu created history by clinching India’s first silver medal at Tokyo Olympics. The Manipur-born weightlifter bagged the silver in the women’s 49kg category in weightlifting. Mirabai Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. She went on to become the first Indian to win an Olympic medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

PM Modi congratulated Chanu on her epic win.

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

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2021

This was Chanu’s second appearance at Olympics. In the Rio edition in 2016, she had failed in her first snatch attempt of 82kg. On her second attempt, she was able to lift 82kg before failing in the third attempt at 84kg. She also flunked all three attempts in the Clean and Jerk.

However, the weightlifter made tremendous amends in her second outing in Tokyo. Chanu completed her first and second snatch attempts at 84kg and 87kg respectively, before failing the 89kg attempt. In the Clean and Jerk event, she successfully lifted weights of 110kg and 115kg.

China’s Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia’s Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg.

Also Read: Tokyo Olympics: India Beat New Zealand 3-2 Win Hockey Opener