Mirabai Chanu Wins India's First Olympic Medal at Tokyo

Mirabai Chanu, India's star weightlifter, made history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in the women's 49kg category on Day 1 of the Tokyo Olympics 2021. This is also India's first appearance at the Tokyo Olympics. Chanu is the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal, following Karnam Malleswari.

Chanu lifted 84 and 87 kilograms successfully, but she failed to raise 89 kilograms since she was positioned second after snatch, behind China's HOU Zhihu, who lifted 94 kilograms to set an Olympic record. In a snatch of 87kg, Mirabai Chanu equaled her personal best. When she won the gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Snatch, she lifted 87 kilograms.

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Mirabai went to her first Olympic Games in Rio five years ago as one of India's top hopes, but she had a disappointing performance. Mirabai will compete in the 2021 Asian Weightlifting Championships with a world record of 119kg in clean and jerk.

Watch Mirabai Chanu's Winning Moment:

What a super first attemp in clean n jerk, 110 kgs. #MirabaiChanu #chanu #Mirabai #Weightlifting #India #Ind #IndiaAtTokyo2020 #TeamIndia #Cheers4India #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/BFVm1OgTgS

— Abhimanyu 🌏 🇮🇳 (@Abhimanyu_1987) July 24, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Mirabai Chanu's silver-medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics. PM Modi remarked in a tweet that the Manipur weightlifter will inspire other Indian athletes.

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