Saikhom Mirabai Chanu: Iron lady who gave India an Olympic silver medal
Born in a hamlet near Imphal, Manipur, Chanu was the youngest of the four sisters and two rothers. Even at a very young age, she was very strong and outdid even her brothers in lifting heavy objects cans of water from nearby ponds. Her mother, Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Devi, and siblings spotted her ability. That was how Chanu began pursuing weightlifting.
Training required her to travel to the city, that would have cost between ₹10-₹20 daily. Trucks that transported sand to Imphal passed through Chanu’s village, where they stopped at the tea stall run by the budding sportsperson’s mother. Often, Chanu boarded one of many trucks that passed in front of her training centre, thus saving the money she would have spent on bus fare.
Breakthrough
Chanu’s first major international success came in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The 19- year-old struck silver in the 48kg category, lifting a total of 170kg to finish behind compatriot Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu’s tally of 173kg. Two years later, the trials to decide who would represent India during the 2016 Rio Olympics saw Chanu lift 192kg to break Kunjarani Devi’s 12-year-old 48kg national record. Suddenly, there was a buzz around Chanu and her chances at the Rio Games.
However, disaster struck in Rio, where Chanu registered only one complete lift out of the six attempts (three in snatch and three in clean and jerk). Thus she failed to get an overall total in the 48kg category. What could have been a memorable Olympic debut for Chanu turned into a nightmare.
Bouncing back
Crushed but not broken, Chanu sought a sports psychologist’s help and bounced back. At the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, Chanu clinched the gold medal by lifting 85kg in snatch and 109kg in clean and jerk for a total of 194kg to give the country its first gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championship since Karnam Malleswari in 1995. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Chanu lifted a total of 196kg to win the gold, breaking the Games record and erasing her personal best. During the 2019 World Championships, she improved her performance yet only finish fourth. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Chanu began preparations for the Tokyo Games by setting a new world record of 119kg in clean and jerk for a total lift of 205kg to win the Asian Championship bronze in Tashkent last April.
Glory at Tokyo Olympics
She headed for the Tokyo Olympics with great self-belief. Unlike her experience in Rio Olympics, Chanu did not let the pressure get to her this time. She lifted 87kg in snatch and 115kg in the clean and jerk for 202kg to bag the silver medal. Her performance was bettered only by China’s Hou Zhihui (210kg). Chanu has became only the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal and the first silver medallist. Before her, Malleswari was the lone Indian Olympic medallist with a bronze at the 2000 Olympics. After her feat at the Olympics, Chanu invited the truck drivers who had helped her reach the practice venue during her formative years and touched their feet as an expression of gratitude.
Interesting facts
1. Mirabai Chanu wears Olympic ring-shaped gold earrings gifted by her mother before the 2016 Rio Olympics. They were shaped from the savings and the pieces of gold she possessed.
2. Weightlifting was not Chanu's first choice. She tried archery after the success of Bombayla Devi. Her interest changed after she saw weightlifters perform their training routine nearby.
3. Veteran weightlifter Nameirakpam Kunjarani Devi, who won seven World Championship silver and two Asian Games bronze medals, was an inspiration for Mirabai Chanu.
4. The plucky weightlifter from Manipur was awarded the Padma Shri and the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, in 2018. She was also nominated for the Arjuna Award in 2020.
5. After her Olympic medal, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced Chanu's appointment as the Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) in state police. She assumed charge earlier this year.