World Weightlifting Championship: Mirabai Chanu Becomes 1st Indian To Win Gold In Over 2 Decades
Chanu, who is employed with the Indian Railways, lifted 85kg in snatch and 109kg in clean and jerk to total an impressive 194kg in the women's 48kg, in the process setting a new national record.
Highlights
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Mirabai Chanu won gold at the World Weightlifting Championship
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Mirabai Chanu ended India's 2-decade wait
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Mirabai Chanu is employed with the Indian Railways
Mirabai Chanu on Thursday became the first Indian in over two decades to claim a gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championship in Anaheim, USA, exorcising the ghosts of her forgettable outing at the Rio Olympics. Chanu, who is employed with the Indian Railways, lifted 85kg in snatch and 109kg in clean and jerk to total an impressive 194kg in the women's 48kg, in the process notching up a new national record. "Everyone is happy here and congratulating me for the achievement," she said in an exclusive chat with NDTV.Â
Seeing the tricolour from the podium, tears of joy rolled down her cheeks, as Chanu picked up a rare honour for an Indian at the marquee event. "I cried a lot after the win and seeing the Indian flag going high, I got very emotional," she said.
IWF WWC 2017 Women's 48kg:
— IWF (@iwfnet) November 30, 2017
?? Chanu Mirabai ???? | 194
?? Thunya Sukcharoen ???? | 193
?? Ana Segura ???? | 182#2017iwfwwc pic.twitter.com/soupO70zyI
Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleshwari had won the top prize in worlds twice - in 1994 and 1995.
India's first women won Weightlifting Gold Medal in World Championship:Indian Railway player Ms. S. Mirabai Chanu won Gold Medal in the ongoing World Weightlifting Championship 2017 held at Anaheim, USA from 27.11.2017 to 05.12.2017.
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 30, 2017
. pic.twitter.com/CJpKoVZCEo
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu wins #Gold in 2017 IWF Senior Men & Women #weightlifting championships in Anaheim, USA.
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) November 30, 2017
In the 48 kg weight category, her total lift was 194 kg. That's 4 times her bodyweight.
In sports, and in life, 'Will' is everything. Never, EVER give up.#KheloIndia pic.twitter.com/sbs2crloVv
Chanu's outing in Anaheim was very different from the way things panned out in Rio last year when she put up a disappointing performance as she could not get an overall total in women's 48kg after failing to lift the weight in any of her three attempts in clean & jerk section. After the win Chanu vowed to assess the mistakes she made in Rio last year. I will assess the mistakes I made in Rio and try not to repeat them," she said adding," I will prepare well for the future tournaments."
In a field of 12 lifters at the Rio Games, she was one of two lifters who did not finish (DNF) her event.
Thailand's Sukcharoen Thunya won the silver medal with a total lift of 193, while Segura Ana Iris bagged the brozne with 182kg.
Some of the world's top weightlifting nations such as Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Azerbaijan could not take part in the competition due to issues related to doping.
(With inputs from PTI)