Tokyo 2020: Mirabai Chanu becomes 1st Indian weightlifter to win silver in Olympics

India's star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu created history on Saturday as she became the first Indian weightlifter to win the silver medal at the Olympic Games. Chanu also became the first Indian to win an Olympic medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games in the Women's 49kg category. China’s Hou Zhihui got the better of Mirabai by lifting 116kg in the Clean and Jerk Event in the ongoing games.

Ending India’s 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics, the 26-year-old Mirabai lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Mirabai Chanu began with an 84kg lift in her first attempt in the snatch segment. Later, the Indian ace improved with an 87kg lift. She then raised the weight to 89kg, which was one 1kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year. However, she was unable to better her personal best and settled for 87kg in the snatch event.

In the clean jerk, Chanu lifted 110kg and 115kg in the first two attempts. However, she was unable to raise 117kg in her final attempt but it was enough to fetch her a medal and open India’s account. Mirabai broke down in tears after realising she has won an elusive silver in weightlifting.

Soon after Chanu grabbed the Silver medal, netizens took to their respective social media handles to congratulate the weightlifter.

China’s Hou Zhihui won the gold medal with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg), while Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg).