Can Mirabai Chanu win a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Mirabai Chanu became a household name in India when she won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the Women's Weightlifting competition. Mirabai is all set to make her third Olympic appearance in Paris. Along with the weights on the barbell, the 29-year-old will also carry the weight of the expectations of Indian fans to get a medal for the country.
Born in the Nongpok Kakching district, Mirabai hails from a warrior clan of the Manipur region. At the age of 12, her family identified her strengths and motivated her to pursue weightlifting. She started training at the Sports Academy in Manipur.
Mirabai Chanu got her first breakthrough in the Glasgow edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2014. She won a silver medal in the 48kg weight category. Her focus immediately shifted to the Rio Olympics in 2016. However, the result went in the opposite direction of the plan. She failed at the big stage in all of her attempts.
This didn't stop her from dreaming of winning an Olympic medal for the country. Mirabai won gold medals at the Commonwealth Championships in Gold Coast (2017) and Apia (2019). She also won gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The Manipur-born was part of the 49 kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She lifted a total of 202 kg and became the first-ever Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal at the Olympics. With that, Mirabai also became only the second woman to win a silver medal for India after badminton star PV Sindhu (at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro).
Primary Rivals of Mirabai Chanu at Paris Olympics
Known as "India's pocket Hercules," Mirabai Chanu is expected to add to the country's medal tally at the Paris Olympics 2024. She is expected to reach the podium at the biggest stage for the second consecutive time. However, Mirabai will have to go through a few big challenges for glory.
Chinese weightlifters Jiang Huihua and Hou Zhihui are among the favorites for a position at the podium. Since 2018, the duo has dominated the 49 kg division in every event and it will not be easy to overpower them. Zhihui was the one who defeated Mirabai Chanu at the Tokyo Olympics in the same category by winning a gold medal.
North Korean athletes are also making their way to the Paris Olympics 2024 after missing out on the previous edition. Ri Song-gum, who won gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in the 49 kg category, is expected to give a tough fight to Mirabai.
The Indian suffered an injury recently but her long-time coach Vijay Kumar Sharma told the media that she has recovered completely. There are multiple challenges for Mirabai Chanu in Paris but we predict that she will win a silver again.