India won its first weightlifting World Championships gold medal since 1995. In womens 48kg category Mirabai Chanu defeated the Thai favourite Thunya Sukcharoen in Anaheim, California. This triumph will surely bring down the sorrow of a below par performance at Rio 2016.
Seeing rising tricolor from Podium brought tears rolling from the eyes of the 23 years old from Manipur. Mirabai had failed to register a total at the Rio Olympics because of nerves. Going into the world championship she said she was again nervous. Later at Anaheim Convention Centre she made three clear clean and jerk lifts for a total of 194kg to deny Sukcharoen, who failed with her last attempt, by one kilogram. Thailand’s Sukcharoen Thunya won the silver medal with a total lift of 193, while Segura Ana Iris bagged the brozne with 182kg.
Olympic bronze medalist Karnam Malleshwari had won the top honours in worlds twice – in 1994 and 1995.
Mirabai Chanu won Silver medal in 2014 commonwealth games.
Chanu, also created a national record by lifting 85 kg in snatch and 109 kg in clean and jerk to total an impressive 194 kg in the women’s 48 kg.
Here are 10 things to know about ace Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu
1: Earlier days : Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was born on 8 August 1994 in Imphal East, Manipur, India. She did not have a weightlifting center in her village during her childhood days, and had to travel 60km to train. She is a prodigious talent who began weightlifting in 2007 at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal, India.
2: Inspiration : She considers Kunjarani Devi to be her inspiration and looks up to her when it comes to the art of weightlifting.
3: Employment : She currently works for Indian railways, which is considered to be the nector of Indian sports talents.
4:) Other International medals: She won silver in 2014 commonwealth games held in Glasgow. Mirabai Chanu is also amongst the 16 weightlifters to qualify for 2018 commonwealth games.
