Tokyo Olympics: 1st medal for India, Mirabai Chanu becomes 1st Indian weightlifter to win silver in Olympics

weightlifter Mirabai Chanu created history on Saturday as she became 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 to win an Olympics medal for India. The new Olympic record was registered by Mirabai Chanu with a successful lift of 115kg in clean and jerk. Chanu lifted 84kg and 87kg successfully but failed to lift 89kg as she was placed in the second spot after snatch while China’s HOU Zhihu lifted 94kg to create an Olympic record.

Mirabai Chanu equaled her personal best in a snatch of 87kg. She lifted 87kg in Snatch when she won the gold medal at the World Championships in 2017. 5 years ago, Mirabai had headed to her maiden Olympic Games at Rio as one of the big Indian hopes, but she suffered a poor outing. Mirabai has the world record of 119kg in clean and jerk at the 2021 Asian Weightlifting Championships.