Saikhom Mirabai Chanu

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (born 9 August 1994) is an Indian weightlifter. Mirabai Chanu lifted a total of 201 kg, winning the gold medal at the CWG 2022. She won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the Women's 49 kg category. Mirabai Chanu has won the World Championships and multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games. She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions to the sport. She was awarded the sporting honour Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna by the Government of India in 2018.

In this Meitei name, the family name is Saikhom and the given name is Mirabai. "Chanu" is a name suffix.

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu
Personal information
Born (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994
Nongpok Kakching, Imphal East, Manipur, India
Height1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)
Weight49 kg (108 lb)
Sport
CountryIndia
SportWeightlifting
Event(s)49 kg
Coached byVijay Sharma, Aaron Horschig[1][2]
Medal record
Women's weightlifting
Representing  India
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place2020 Tokyo49 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 Anaheim48 kg
Silver medal – second place2022 Bogotá49 kg
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place2020 Tashkent49 kg
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2022 Birmingham49 kg
Gold medal – first place2018 Gold Coast48 kg
Silver medal – second place2014 Glasgow48 kg
Commonwealth Championships
Gold medal – first place2019 Apia49 kg
Gold medal – first place2017 Gold Coast48 kg
Gold medal – first place2013 Penang48 kg
Silver medal – second place2015 Pune48 kg

Chanu won the silver medal in the women's 48 kg weight class at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow; she went on to break the games record en route to the gold medal at the 2018 edition of the event held in Gold Coast. Prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics, her biggest achievement came in 2017, when she won the gold medal at World Weightlifting Championships held in Anaheim, California.[3] She was the world record holder in Clean & Jerk in the 49 kg category until a chinese lifter broke the record by 1 kg. In 2022, she joined I-League club NEROCA as its brand ambassador.[4]

Early life and background

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was born on 8 August 1994 in Nongpok Kakching[5] about 30 km away from Imphal city, Manipur[6] to a Meitei family, a warrior clan of that region.[7] Chanu identified herself as a follower of Sanamahism but also stated she worships Hindu deities as well.[8] Her family identified her strength when she was just 12. She could easily carry a huge bundle of firewood home when her elder brother found it hard to even pick it up.[9]

Mirabai trained at the Sports Academy in Manipur. She hitched rides with truck drivers carrying sand. After winning the Olympic medal, she invited the truck drivers to offer her gratitude and touched their feet as a sign of respect.[10]

Career
The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur and other ministers and officials felicitating Tokyo Olympics Silver Medalist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and her coach Vijay Sharma in New Delhi on July 26, 2021.

Chanu's first major breakthrough came at the Glasgow edition of the Commonwealth Games; she won the silver medal in the 48 kg weight category.[11]

2016 Rio Olympics

Chanu qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the women's 48 kg category. However, she failed to complete the event, owing to no successful lifts in any of her three attempts in the clean & jerk section.[12]

2017–2021

In 2017, she won the gold medal in the Women's 48 kg category by lifting a competition record 194 kg in total (85 kg snatch and 109 kg clean & jerk) in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships held at Anaheim, California, United States.[13]

Chanu lifted a total of 196 kg, 86 kg in Snatch, and 110 kg in Clean and Jerk to win the first gold medal for India in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[14] En route to the medal, she broke the game's record for her weight category; the effort also marked her personal best performance.[15] She missed out on a bronze medal in the 49 kg category at 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships with a total lift of 199 kg, her personal best, as her Snatch weight was lower than the third-place athlete, both of whom had identical totals.

At the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships, Mirabai lifted a total of 201 kg (87 kg Snatch and 114 kg Clean & Jerk) to finish fourth.[16] This personal best total also created a new national record in the 49 kg category. She broke her personal record again four months later when she lifted 203 kg (88 kg in Snatch and 115 kg in Clean & Jerk,) in the 49 kg category to win the gold medal at the 2020 Senior National Weightlifting Championships.[17]

In April 2021, she won the bronze medal at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent where she lifted 86 kg in snatch and then created the world record by lifting 119 kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 205 kg.[2] In June 2021, Chanu became the only Indian woman weightlifter to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics[18] by securing a second position on the Absolute Rankings for the 49 kg category.[18][19]

2020 Tokyo Olympics

Chanu won the silver medal in 49 kg division at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with a total lift of 202 kg,[19] becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win silver at the Olympics, the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal, and the second Indian woman after P. V. Sindhu to win an Olympic silver. A new Olympic record was registered by Chanu with a successful lift of 115 kg in clean and jerk.[19][20] Her win ensured India its first medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Aftermath of Tokyo Olympic Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh announced an award of ₹1 crore for her.[21] Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced an award of ₹2 crores, promotion, and more for her.[22] Domino's Pizza India also offered her free pizza for life.[23][24][25][26]

2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games

Chanu won gold medal in 49 kg category at Commonwealth Games 2022 held at Birmingham, England.[27][28] She lifted a total of 201 kg in snatch and cleaned and jerk.[29]

Major results
Year Venue Weight Snatch (kg) Clean & Jerk (kg) Total Rank
1 2 3 Rank 1 2 3 Rank
Olympic Games
2016Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil48 kg8282846103106106―NM―
2020Japan Tokyo, Japan49 kg848789211011511722022nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships
2017United States Anaheim, United States48 kg838585210310710911941st place, gold medalist(s)
2019Thailand Pattaya, Thailand49 kg8487 NR895111114 NR1184201 NR4
2022Colombia Bogotá, Colombia49 kg848787511111111322002nd place, silver medalist(s)
National Championships
2020India Kolkata, India49 kg8588 NR901st place, gold medalist(s)111115 NR1171st place, gold medalist(s)203 NR1st place, gold medalist(s)
Asian Championships
2019China Ningbo, China49 kg838686410911311531994
2020Uzbekistan Tashkent, Uzbekistan49 kg8585864113117119 WR1205 NR3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Commonwealth Games
2014Scotland Glasgow, Scotland48 kg727575292959821702nd place, silver medalist(s)
2018Australia Gold Coast, Australia48 kg808486 NR1st place, gold medalist(s)103107110 NR1st place, gold medalist(s)196 NR1st place, gold medalist(s)
2022England Birmingham, England49 kg8488 NR901st place, gold medalist(s)1091131151st place, gold medalist(s)2011st place, gold medalist(s)

Awards
The President of India presenting the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award to Chanu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

National

Rewards

For winning the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics -

Others

Mei Iklaba Thamoi (play)

Mei Iklaba Thamoi is a Meitei language Shumang Kumhei play based on the life of Mirabai Chanu, directed by Shougrakpam Hemanta, released on 19 September 2021.[42]

Upcoming film

A biographical Manipuri feature film on Mirabai Chanu was also announced by Seuti Films. The movie will be directed by OC Meira and screenplay by Manaobi MM.[43]

See also

References
  1. "Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu, coach Vijay Sharma thank government for sustained support". The Times of India. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  2. Deka, Kaushik (19 July 2021). "Lifting hope | Saikhom Mirabai Chanu". India Today. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. "Mirabai Chanu wins gold medal in World Weightlifting Championships". Hindustan Times. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  4. Pakrashi, Sudeep (11 August 2023). "NEROCA FC to strengthen team, plans to invite Mirabai Chanu to motivate the boys before I-League". parallelsports.in. Parallel Sports News. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  5. Sirur, Simrin (25 July 2021). "In her Manipur village, Mirabai Chanu's family prepared for a feast to celebrate Olympic feat". ThePrint. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. Ratnadip, Choudhury (24 July 2021). "First Reaction From Mirabai Chanu's Family, Neighbours In Manipur On Her Silver". NDTV. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. "Mirabai Chanu's parents in tears after daughter wins silver in Tokyo Olympics". Hindustan Times. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  8. Ahanthem, Chitra (30 July 2021). "Saikhom Mirabai Chanu: One Olympic medal and its many stories". The News Minute. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. Nair, Shashank (24 July 2021). "Mirabai Chanu wins silver at Tokyo Olympics: Why Manipur is churning out world-class weightlifters". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  10. "'Never forget a favour': Twitter gets emotional seeing Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu touching feet of truck drivers". Mint. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  11. "Lifter Sanjita Khumukcham wins India's first gold medal at 2014 Commonwealth Games". Zee News. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  12. "Rio Olympics 2016: India's Saikhom Mirabai Chanu fails to complete weightlifting event". Firstpost Sports. Firstpost. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  13. "Mirabai Chanu wins gold at World Weightlifting Championships". The Times of India. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  14. "CWG 2018: Mirabai Chanu sets CWG record to clinch first gold medal for India". The Indian Express. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  15. "Highlights, Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast: Weightlifters Mirabai Chanu, P Gururaja bring India glory on Day 1". Firstpost Sports. Firstpost. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  16. "2019 IWF World Championships". International Weightlifting Federation. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  17. "Mirabai Chanu breaks personal record to win national championship". olympics.com. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  18. Sen, Rohan (12 June 2021). "Tokyo Olympics: Mirabai Chanu becomes first Indian weightlifter to qualify for 2021 Summer Games". India Today. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
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  21. Laithangbam, Iboyaima (26 July 2021). "Manipur CM Biren assures suitable job for Mirabai Chanu". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  22. "Govt felicitates Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, announce reward, promotion". ThePrint. PTI. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  23. "Domino's Pizza offers lifetime free pizzas to Olympian Saikhom Mirabai Chanu". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  24. "Domino's pledges free pizza for life to India's silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu - Biting silver". The Economic Times. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  25. "Domino's India decides to fulfill Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Chanu Saikhom Mirabai's 'pizza wish'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  26. "Domino's to offer free pizza for life to Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu". www.business-standard.com. Press Trust of India. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  27. "Mirabai Chanu clinches India's 1st gold medal of Commonwealth Games 2022, shatters Games record in women's weightlifting". Adda247. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  28. Rowbottom, Mike (30 July 2022). "India's Chanu reigns supreme in women's weightlifting 49kg class". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  29. "Commonwealth Games 2022: Mirabai Chanu wins first gold medal for India". The Bridge. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
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  31. "Padma awards 2018 announced, MoS Dhoni, Sharda Sinha among 85 recipients | Here's complete list". India TV. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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  33. Sharma, Nitin (12 July 2021). "Rs 6 crore or Rs 25 lakh for Olympics gold? Home state key to cash prize". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  34. Leivon, Jimmy (28 June 2021). "Manipur govt announces Rs. 1.2 crore to athletes who win gold in Tokyo Olympics". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
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  36. "Promotion, ₹ 2 Crore For Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu After Olympic Silver". NDTV. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  37. "Raining rewards for Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra! Haryana, Punjab, BCCI announce cash awards for star javelin thrower". Financial Express. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
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  39. "Rs 20 lakh reward for champion lifter Mirabai Chanu". The Indian Express. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  40. "Manipur star weightlifter receives ₹10 lakh incentive from state govt". The Northeast Today. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  41. "TOISA 2021: Neeraj Chopra headlines the list of winners". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. New Delhi: The Times of India. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  42. "Shumang Leela based on Mirabai soon". e-pao.net. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  43. "Biopic feature on Mirabai Chanu to be made". Imphal Free Press. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
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