Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, popularly known as Mirabai Chanu, was born on August 8, 1994, and grew up within a 30-kilometre radius of Manipur’s capital. Chanu is a weightlifter who plays on behalf of India.
She won many awards in the field of weightlifting. Recently in Tokyo Olympics 2020, Chanu won a silver medal in the Women’s 49 kg category. Interestingly, she has been in sports since the age of 12.
The early life of Mirabai Chanu :
The journey of her sports began when her brother saw her carrying a vast and heavy bundle of firewood, which was even hard to pick up. At the age of 12, her family members promoted her strength in weightlifting and admitted her to a sports academy.
She was always interested in archery and wanted to pursue it further before deciding to go into the line of weightlifting. Once she chose this field, she started collecting national and international medals very young.
Personal life of Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu is one of the youngest of her siblings in the family. She is a sister of five siblings. Chanu was born into a family that could not meet both ends. Her father, Saikhom Kriti Meitei, was a construction worker as a government employee, while her mother, Saikhom Tombi Devi, ran a small tea and snacks shop in the village.
She belongs to a family of Meitei. She has five siblings. In which a brother, Saikhom Sanatomba Meitei, with two sisters, Saikhom Rangita and Saikhom Shaya, are known. Chanu is fond of listening to music and travelling.
Weightlifting Career of Mirabai Chanu
In 2014, Mirabai Chanu initiated her career in the women’s 48 kg category and managed to win a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow.
Saikhom qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the women’s 48 kg category. However, she could not complete the event successfully. She won the gold medal in the same category by lifting 194 kg with a combination of 85 kg snatch and 109 kg clean and jerk. This world weightlifting championship was held in Anaheim, California, in 2017.
After a break of one year, She participated in the Commonwealth Games and grabbed the “First Gold Medal” for India in 2018. Not only this, but Mirabai broke all the previous records by lifting 196 kg with 86 kg in snatch and 110 kg in clean and jerk.
In April 2021, She won another bronze medal at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent. At Tokyo Olympics 2020, she secured second place with a silver medal in the 49 kg category by lifting 202 kg. She became the first Indian weightlifter to grab a silver medal in the Olympics after Karnam Malleshwari.
Awards and Achievements
Mirabai Chanu received significant rewards after winning a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics from the Government of India and the State Government.
Apart from government organisations, she received many rewards from privately owned companies like Byju’s. She received one crore from Byju’s, one crore from the government of Manipur, 2 Crore from the Ministry of Railways, and the government of India gifted 50 lakh to Chanu.
Board of Control for Cricket in India gave 50 lakh, while the part of Indian Olympic Association gifted 40 lakh. Along with this, Manipur Government gave 35 lakh to Mirabai for participating and qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Performance at 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games
Held in Birmingham, England, the 2022 Commonwealth games have been an excellent opportunity for players to showcase their talent. Mirabai Chanu won Gold Medal in the 49 kg category by lifting a weight of 201 kg in total, including clean and jerk.
