Tokyo: Mirabai Chanu, the weightlifter from Manipur, overcame her Rio heartbreak to win a silver medal in the women’s 49kg event at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.
Chanu’s win opened India’s medal tally at the Olympics this year.
The 26-year-old became the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympics medal after Karnam Malleswari, who won the bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Chanu completed a successful lift of 110 kg in the clean and jerk category. However, China’s Zhihui clinched the gold with Olympic records in both Snatch and Clean and Jerk.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Chanu on her stupendous 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. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020,” Modi tweeted.
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