New Delhi, July 24, 2021: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal in the women’s 49 Kg weightlifting event today, winning India’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
She had total lifts of 202kg, including 87kg in Snatch and 115kg in Clean & Jerk. The 26-year-old from Manipur, nurtured carefully after a back injury in 2018, became the toast of the nation. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and people of India from all corner of the country congratulated Mirabai for her achievement. Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur called up weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on phone and congratulated her for winning the medal and bringing laurels to the country.
President Ram Nath Kovind wished Chanu on her outstanding win. Kovind tweeted, “Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning silver medal in weightlifting.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness at India’s medal-winning start and congratulated Chanu for her performance. “Could not have asked for a happier start to Tokyo2020! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu’s stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted with the hashtag Cheer4India.
Silver Medal winner weightlifter Mirabai Chanu interacted with media in a Facebook live arranged by Sports Authority of India. During the interaction Mirabai expressed her happiness and said that she has made a lot of sacrifices for this day and today all her hard work has been rewarded and her dream has come true.
