Saikhom Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian to win gold at the recently held Commonwealth Games, 2022 at Birmingham in England when she lifted a total of 201kg to achieve the golden glory. In her victory, she engraved her name in the history of India sports.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Chanu won the silver medal in 49 kg division with a total lift of 202 kg, becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win silver at the Olympics, the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal. And expectations were high following that which she lived up to at the Commonwealth Games, 2022, held at Birmingham, England, when she became the first Indian to win gold at the event.
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Since then, she has been inspiring everyone, including Nooh Dastagir Butt who won Pakistan's first gold medal at this edition of the Commonwealth Games, hailing Chanu as an inspiration. Hollywood star and main actor of Thor, Chris Hemsworth also called Chanu ‘Worthy’ of his hammer ‘Mjölnir’.
And upon returning from the event to her home town in Manipur, the Indian superstar celebrated her 28th birthday on August 8 with family and loved ones and planted trees as part of the celebration.
"Made my birthday special by planting trees this year," (sic) she tweeted while adding "Another year, another medal and birthday celebrations with the family". (sic)
She also visited her training centre in Imphal and tweeted, “Really happy to visit the weightlifting training centre here in Imphal and meet the future stars of Indian weightlifting”.
Chanu has been, indeed, an inspiration for many across the country. And as she’s said, “Lifting 201kg never felt easy but thanks to the love and wishes of billions back home, every challenge is just an attempt away”.
