And Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, the undisputed queen of weightlifting, who won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, was able to make her name in India’s history books even if it’s no surprise that she was the gold medalist and her name was on one of the tall girls of weightlifting. Chanu won her third consecutive gold medal at the quadrennial event and further cemented her reputation as one of India's greatest athletes.
A Record Breaking Dominance on stage
Chanu was totally in her own league in the women's event. Her first attempt at 82kg from the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist proved to be a bit of a mishap but she quickly corrected and successfully cleared that. She succeeded in clearing 82kg on the second try and broke the Commonwealth and Games records with an 85kg lift.
Chanu brought an eight-kilogram cushion into the clean and jerk region, so after dropping her first 105kg lift she was already in trouble. But with her championship pedigree she burst back on her second attempt and lifted the weight to 105kg and won gold. She achieved 190kg with her competitors far behind. Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong claimed the silver with 168kg and Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry took the bronze with 167kg. With the gold in her hands, Chanu was able to avoid the last attempt to prevent any unnecessary strain.
The Unseen Struggles: “I Couldn’t Eat or Drink for Three Days”.
The tale of great physical sacrifice and mental toughness behind the podium finish was a story of all the hard work. Speaking to the press after her victory Chanu shed light on her experience in order to make weight in the process. “Managing my weight is very difficult. To make weight this time I had to stop everything. I cannot eat anything and I couldn't drink water for three days," Chanu said, revealing the dark side of elite combat sport. Besides the extreme weight cuts, she also suffered a sudden training injury before the multi-sport competition. But motivated by an unwavering desire to “do something for India” she pushed through the hurdle. She expressed gratitude to her fans and coaching staff who were so much more than just fans.
Weightlifting keeps India’s flag flying high
Chanu’s win was the crown jewel of an outstanding day for India's weightlifting team. In the evening the country added more silverware as Rishikanta Singh (Men's 60kg) and Raja Muthupandi (Men’s 65kg) showed great skill to win brilliant silver medals in their respective categories. Para-lifter Jhandu Kumar also contributed significantly by winning a bronze medal.
Meanwhile, the momentum extended beyond the weightlifting arena. Star boxer Lovlina Borgohain guaranteed India at least a bronze medal once again after getting a clear bye to the semifinal. As the Tricolour soared high in Glasgow, Mirabai Chanu’s latest golden moment reaffirmed once again why she remains an inspirational figure to many young people in the world who aspire to play for her.
