Asian Games 2023: Mirabai Chanu - The Firegirl From Manipur

One of the most reliable and consistent performers for India, Mirabai Chanu will be eying the top spot at Asian Games in Hangzhou this year.

The 2023 Asian Games are set to take place in Hangzhou, and athletes from all across Asia are gearing up to represent their respective countries. Among these athletes is a young woman from the northeastern state of Manipur in India, whose fiery determination has earned her plaudits from several walks of the sporting community. She is Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, a weightlifter who has already made a name for herself in the international sporting community.

The upbringing of the firegirl

Chanu was born on August 9, 1994, in a small village called Nongpok Kakching in Manipur. Her family did not have much money, and Chanu grew up in a modest household. However, she was determined to make a better life for herself, and sports quickly became her passion. She played several games as a child, but weightlifting captured her interest.

At 11, Chanu began training under coach Anita Chanu, who quickly saw her potential as a weightlifter. Over the next few years, she honed her skills, competing in various state-level competitions and winning numerous medals. By the time she was 16, she was ready to take on the national stage, and in 2011, she competed in the National Youth Weightlifting Championship, where she won a silver medal in the 48 kg category.

Success at the senior level

Since then, Chanu has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of India's most promising young athletes. She made her international debut in 2014, competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where she won a silver medal in the 48 kg category. However, it was in 2017 that Chanu made a name for herself. In that year's World Weightlifting Championships, held in Anaheim, California, she lifted 194 kg, breaking the previous national record and winning the gold medal in the 48 kg category. Her performance was especially remarkable considering that she had suffered a back injury just a few months prior, forcing her to miss the Commonwealth Games earlier that year.

For her outstanding achievement, Chanu was awarded the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2018, India's highest sporting honour. She also received a cash prize of 75 lakhs (approximately USD 100,000) from the Indian government. However, Chanu remains focused on her ultimate goal: winning a medal at the Olympics.

History at the Tokyo Olympics

Still, there was some caution about her consistency in some of the weightlifting communities. Mirabai Chanu quickly put any doubts to rest at the Tokyo Olympics. In the women's 49 kg weightlifting event, she lifted 202 kg. Her first lift of 84 kg was already a new personal best, and she followed it up with a successful lift of 87 kg.

In her third attempt, she attempted 89 kilogrammes, which would have set a new world record. Though she could not lift it, she had already done enough to secure the silver medal and become the second Indian woman ever to win an Olympic weightlifting medal.

The Asian Games in 2023 will be an essential stepping stone for Chanu as she works towards that goal. She has already set her sights on the gold medal, and her preparations for the competition are in full swing.