In January, Mirabai Chanu was grappling with doubts about her strength training and her ability to lift weights nearly double her body weight, questioning her prospects for the Paris Olympics. Fast forward six months, and Mirabai found herself in Paris, narrowly missing a bronze medal with a fourth-place finish, lifting a total of 199 kg in the women’s 49 kg category.
Despite securing a silver medal at the Tokyo Games, Mirabai faced a tough competition in Paris. China’s Hou Zhihui defended her Olympic title with a total lift of 206 kg, followed by Romania’s Mihaela Valentina Cambei with 205 kg, and Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao, who clinched the bronze with 200kg.
Mirabai’s initial 88 kg lift in the snatch, matching her national record, put her in the running for a medal. However, the clean and jerk segment proved challenging. Romania’s Cambei led the snatch section with a 93 kg lift, pushing Hou Zhihui to second place. Cambei’s impressive 112 kg in the clean and jerk secured her a medal, leaving Mirabai to finish fourth despite her successful 111 kg lift in the second attempt.
Mirabai’s journey to Paris was fraught with physical and mental hurdles. After her Tokyo success, she won silver at the 2022 World Championships and gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. However, her momentum was halted by a hip injury at the Asian Championships last year, causing her to miss the podium and the rest of the season.
Her return to the sport was a challenging process. After a lengthy rehabilitation, she resumed training in January, with her sights set on qualifying for Paris. Although her performance at the IWF World Cup in March was underwhelming, lifting 184 kg to finish 12th, it was enough to secure her place in the Paris Olympics.
Reflecting on her journey, Mirabai said, “It was difficult, there is always self-doubt about when the recovery will happen, how soon it will and stuff like that.” Despite the challenges, Mirabai’s resilience and determination have been an inspiration, and her journey continues as she prepares for future competitions.
Manipur Chief Minister has expressed his support for Mirabai Chanu following her narrow miss at the Paris Olympics. In an X post, he stated, “With a narrow miss, our star @mirabai_chanu came heartbreakingly close to winning an Olympic medal in the 49kg weightlifting category, finishing 4th at #Paris2024. Despite this setback, your dedication and achievements have filled us with immense pride. We will always be proud of you! #Cheer4Bharat 🇮🇳.” This message highlights the pride and admiration the nation holds for Mirabai, recognizing her dedication and accomplishments in the face of challenges.
With a narrow miss, our star @mirabai_chanu came heartbreakingly close to winning an Olympic medal in the 49kg weightlifting category, finishing 4th at #Paris2024.
Despite this setback, your dedication and achievements have filled us with immense pride. We will always be proud… pic.twitter.com/dNH2299XWg
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) August 7, 2024
