Sports

Mirabai Chanu creates history as India wins its first medal in Tokyo Olympics!

By alagu, 24 July, 2021
Tokyo Olympics 2021, Olympics, India

Mirabai Chanu has become a hope for the Indian contingent to build a winning momentum in Tokyo Olympics after winning a Silver medal in weightlifting. As Chanu has created history, India has opened its medal account on the very first day of the Olympics amid encountering some disappointing start from the country's shooting campaign.

With Chanu's triumph, the country, which has sent one of the largest contingents to Tokyo, is cheering the moment and celebrating Chanu for her remarkable feat. 26-year-old Chanu has become the first Indian weightlifter to win Silver in Olympics in the Women's 49kg category. While India has won the first medal, the country's neighbour China has won two Gold medals on the first day of the Olympics.

China's Hou Zhuhui has won the Gold Medal in the Women's 49kg category and Chanu has won the Silver. Indonesia's Cantik Windy Aisah has won the Bronze medal and earlier, China became the first country to win the Gold Medal in the Olympics after the Chinese shooter Qian Yang had won the medal in the women's 10m air rifle competition. Chanu has won the Silver medal in 49kg weightlifting with a total lift of 202 kg. Chanu has also become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleswari.

Chanu had also registered a new Olympic record with a successful lift of 115 kg in clean and jerk. The weightlifting event was held at the Tokyo International Forum and Mirabai Chanu had begun with an 84kg lift in her attempt in the snatch segment and later, she had lifted 87kg that advanced her prospects for a Gold medal. However, Chanu's momentum was broken by her opponent Chinese weightlifter Hou Zhihui after the latter had lifted 88kg in her first attempt. Zhihui went on to set a new Olympic record in the snatch at 94 kgs in her third lift. 

Mirabai Chanu had made her debut in Olympics in the 2016 Rio games. She was one of the promising athletes in the then Indian fleet. However, she had suffered a poor outing in Rio and disappointed the country. After years of intense training, Chanu has created a record of lifting 119 kg clean and jerk at the 2021 Asian Weightlifting championships. She built back the momentum by bagging gold medals in weightlifting in Commonwealth Games that were held in 2018. 

She was qualified to participate in the Tokyo Olympics as the lone Indian weightlifter and her pick didn't go vain as Chanu has created history by becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win the Silver medal at the Olympic games and with the medal, she has opened India's medal account. Chanu has been in the rain of wishes and commendations across and beyond India as several leaders and sportsmen had celebrated her milestone. 

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind took to Twitter and wrote, "Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning a silver medal in weightlifting." Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote, " 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"

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote, "Congratulations to #MirabaiChanu for our country’s first medal on the very first day. India is proud of her daughter." Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar wrote, "𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗜 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗨!  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 (India) very proud." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to Twitter and wrote, "A sparkling start for India on the very first day of #Olympics. My heartiest congratulations to @Mirabai_Chanu who has brought the first Olympic #Silver medal in weightlifting for India with her impressive performance."

 

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