Mirabai Chanu’s silver lifts nation’s spirits

Mirabai Chanu won India’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, a silver in women’s 49kg weightlifting by lifting a combined total of 202kg in Snatch and Clean & Jerk categories. The 26-year-old’s silver ends five years of pain — she had failed to register a single clean lift at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Despondent, she nearly quit the sport but was persuaded to return to training, and today was a day of sweet redemption for the Manipuri. Used to medal-less opening days, Chanu’s silver placed India 12th on the tally.

"I would like to dedicate this medal to my country and would like to thank the billion prayers of all Indians, which were with me during this journey." — Mirabai Chanu

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