Tokyo Olympics: Mirabai Chanu wins silver medal in weightlifting

Mirabai Chanu has won India’s first medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Mirabai Chanu did this amazing feat in women’s weightlifting of 49 kg. She lifted a total of 202 kg in the snatch and clean and jerk rounds and won the silver medal. While Mirabai lifted 87 kg in the snatch round, she lifted 115 kg in the clean and jerk. China’s weightlifter won the gold medal in women’s weightlifting in the 49 kg category. With this she opened the medal tally for India at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 with a silver medal.

Women’s weightlifting in the 49 kg weight category started with the snatch round. In this, Mirabai Chanu lifted 81 kg in her first attempt. After this, in the second attempt, she lifted a weight of 87 kg. However, Mirabai Chanu’s third attempt failed. In the third attempt, she came to lift the weight of 89 kg. Had she lifted this weight, it would have been her personal best in the snatch round. But, she could not do so and her highest weight was recorded at 87 kg in the snatch round. In the snatch round, Mirabai finished second among all women weightlifters. The first place was won by a weightlifter from China, who set a new Olympic record by lifting 94 kg in the snatch. There was a total gap of 7 kg in the snatch round between Mirabai Chanu of India and Chinese weightlifter.

Mirabai creates history by winning silver medal

The silver medal won by Mirabai Chanu is India’s second medal in women’s weightlifting at the Olympics. Earlier, Karnam Malleswari had won a medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Mirabai is the second Indian female athlete after badminton star PV Sindhu to win an Olympic silver.