Tendulkar, Shikhar Dhawan lavish praise on Mirabai Chanu

The Indian sports fraternity, including cricketing greats such as Sachin Tendulkar and the country's white-ball skipper on the tour of Sri Lanka Shikhar Dhawan, led the praise for Mirabai Chanu, who became the first weightlifter from the country to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games, in Tokyo on Saturday.

Tendulkar was effusive in his praise for Mirabai, saying, "Absolutely amazing display of weightlifting. The way you have transformed yourself after your injury and clinched a historic silver for #TeamIndia is absolutely stupendous. You have made (Flag of India) very proud."

On the eve of the competitions, Tendulkar had wished the Indian contingent luck, tweeting, "An Olympic medal win not only makes a whole nation proud but inspires generations to take up the sport and #GoTheDistance. Remembering one of India's Olympic greats, K.D. Jadhav ji, and wishing all our Flag of India Olympic athletes the very best!"

Shikhar Dhawan, who guided India to a 2-1 ODI series win over Sri Lanka in Colombo, tweeted, "Congratulations to #MirabaiChanu (Clapping hands sign) Our country's first medal at the #TokyoOlympics (Smiling face with smiling eyes) Take a bow."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also congratulated the Indian weightlifter, saying, "Many congratulations on the silver medal @Tokyo2020. You've made the entire nation proud. #Cheer4India #TeamIndia."

Bollywood was not far behind in lavishing praise on Mirabai, with celebrities such as Suniel Shetty and Kapil Sharma, among others appreciating the Indian athlete's efforts.

Shetty tweeted, "Congratulations @mirabai_chanu The nation is so proud of you!"

Comedian and actor Kapil Sharma tweeted, "Proud of you @mirabai_chanu congratulations #TokyoOlympics2021," while Telugu actor Varun Tej wrote, "Let's go india! Congrats @mirabai_chanu."

Actress Mandira Bedi tweeted, "First Olympic Medal for India.. So proud. #MirabaiChanu."