Mirabai Chanu wins Silver in weightlifting, India opens medal account in Tokyo

India’s star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu created history on Saturday as she overcame her Rio heartbreak to become 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 clinched the gold medal.

Notably, Chanu is the second weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari (who won bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics) to win an Olympics medal for India. A new Olympic record was registered by Mirabai Chanu with a successful lift of 115kg in clean and jerk.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her on bringing home the silver medal from the event, stating it as a “happier start with astupendous performance”.A regular presence in international events since 2014 in the 48 kg category, Chanu has won the World Championships and multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games. She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions to the sport. She was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards by the Government of India for year 2018.

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