As she steps back into the limelight after a challenging period, Mirabai Chanu will attempt to make history on August 7 by becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win two Olympic medals.
Despite a series of setbacks due to injuries, Chanu’s performance will be closely watched as she competes in Paris, aiming to secure a podium finish. The lifter, who clinched silver for Bharat on the first day of the Tokyo Olympics, has had a subdued Olympic cycle marred by hip tendonitis suffered during the Asian Games last October.
Chanu’s most notable achievement since Tokyo came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she lifted a total of 201kg (88kg in snatch and 113kg in clean and jerk). In comparison, her silver medal performance in Tokyo saw her lift 202kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk).
Competing in her preferred 49 kg weight category, Chanu will need to either match or exceed her personal best to compete effectively for a silver or bronze medal. The reigning Olympic champion, Hou Zhihui from China, is favoured to retain her title.
Despite lingering concerns about her fitness following a five-month break due to her hip injury, Chanu and chief national coach Vijay Sharma have confidently stated that she has made a full recovery.
“We know Mira needs to surpass the 200kg mark to stand a chance. A lift of 202kg won’t suffice; she’ll need to reach around 205-206kg. We’re prepared for the challenge,” mentioned Sharma.
The road to achieving this goal is fraught with difficulty, as the 29-year-old has struggled to surpass her personal bests of 88kg in the snatch, set at the 2020 National Championships, and 119 kg in the clean and jerk, achieved at the 2021 Asian Championships.
Chanu, who turns 30 on Thursday, will face her greatest challenge at the South Paris Arena. Her performance in the snatch has been inconsistent, and her recent clean and jerk results have also been underwhelming. The 90 kg snatch lift has remained elusive for Chanu, with four of her competitors already exceeding this mark.
However, Chanu is renowned for her resilience and determination. Whether overcoming severe menstrual cramps to secure her Tokyo medal or attempting a 117 kg clean and jerk lift despite injury, she has repeatedly demonstrated her fighting spirit.
The 49 kg category remains highly competitive despite the absence of North Korea’s Ri Song Gum, the Asian Games champion and world record holder. Chanu’s entry weight is set at 200 kg, alongside two other competitors: USA’s Jourdan Delacruz, a three-time Pan American champion and world bronze medalist, and Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao, the 2021 world champion. Zhihui and Romania’s Mihaela Cambei have set their entry weights at 210 kg and 205 kg, respectively.
Chanu has been training in Paris for a month, with additional support from American Dr Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter-turned-physical therapist and strength coach who has been working with her since 2020.
