Tokyo: India’s Saikhom Mirabai Chanu created history lifting 202kg (87+115) in the women’s 49kg category to clinch her maiden Olympic silver medal on Saturday. This was also India’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics. It was also India’s second Olympic medal in weightlifting after Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
China’s Hou Zhihui bagged gold with a lift of 210kg (94+116), also an Olympic record while Indonesia’s Windy Cantika Aisah settled for silver with 194kg (84+110). Mirabai Chanu created also overcame her Rio Olympics heartbreak five years back to become the first Indian weightlifter to win the silver medal at the Olympic Games.
🥈 Mirabai Chanu appreciation post 🥈#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/V7SlgQ20Xl
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 24, 2021
“I am very happy, was dreaming of this for past five years,” Mirabai Chanu said after winning the silver medal. Coming as a pre-tournament favourite, Mirabai Chanu lifted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. She bettered it with an 87kg lift in her second but faltered in her third attempt of 89kg.
Mirabai Chanu took her time in the clean and jerk, coming out last to lift her first 110kg successfully assuring herself a medal. With the top three decided by then, it was a tussle between Mirabai Chanu and her Chinese opponent who had already created an Olympic record lifting 94kg in snatch.
Zhihui lifted 114kg (Olympic record) in her second attempt in clean and jerk only to see it broken by the Indian minutes later. Mirabai Chanu lifted 115kg in her second attempt. However, it was the 24-year-old 116kg lift and Mirabai’s 117kg failed lift in their respective third attempts that decided the podium lineup.
