Paris : Tokyo Olympics Silver medalist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu revealed the reason behind her shattered medal hopes dream after finishing 4th in Paris Olympics 2024 Women’s 49 Kg weightlifting.
Mirabai’s total score at the end of the event was 199 kg, falling 3 Kg short of her silver medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics where she lifted a total of 202 kg.
Mirabai commenced the snatch round by successfully lifting 85kg on her first attempt. Unfortunately, her second attempt at 88kg was unsuccessful. Initially, Mirabai had indicated 86kg for her second attempt, but she altered it to 88kg shortly before her turn.
In the final attempt of the snatch round, Mirabai equaled her personal best and national record of 88kg. However, Thai weightlifter Surodchana Khambao also achieved the same weight, resulting in both athletes sharing the 3rd position at the end of snatch round.
In post match interview Mirabai, heart broken told, despite short recovery period of her injury gave her best. She also revealed that she was on 3rd day of her periods therefore, it took a toll on her strength & thus, played a factor behind her 4th finish.
She said, “I am happy with the performance… I tried my best to give my 100 to give India a medal. I managed this despite having very little time for recovery after my injury…but it was not in destiny. It was the third day of my periods and in Tokyo it was my second day, so that also affects your body a bit”.
“Everything was going well for me in the warm up. I gave my best in snatch (88kg). Clean and jerk was also going very well. I fumbled a bit in my first jerk…While walking on the stage, I was feeling a little weak because of the third day (of my period). It was going well. Whatever the coach said, I did. It is just destiny that a medal slipped out of my hand,” she added.
Mirabai’s attempt to lift 111 kg in the clean and jerk event proved unsuccessful on her first try, despite setting a weight higher than her competitors.
Her 2nd attempt at the same weight was successful, securing a joint second place with Hou Zhihui.
However, Surodchana’s successful lift of 112kg on her second attempt pushed her total to 200kg, relegating Mirabai to fourth place.
The 29-year-old Indian weightlifter’s missed opportunity on her first attempt proved costly, as she attempted 114kg on her final lift but was unable to complete it, leaving her with a total of 199kg.
