Tokyo Olympics: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu wins silver medal in women's 49kg category

India's star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won India's first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, winning a silver medal in 49kg weightlifting with a total lift of 202 kg. Mirabai Chanu created history on Saturday as she overcame her Rio heartbreak to become the first Indian weightlifter to win the silver medal at the Olympic Games. Chanu also became the first Indian to win an Olympic medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games in the Women's 49kg category.

Chanu picked a total of 87 kg in the snatch part of the event and ended with a lift of 115 kg in clean and jerk. She is the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal. Chanu has been a world champion in the past when she won the gold medal in the 48 kg category in Anaheim. She is the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 48kg category.

China's Zhihui Hou won the gold medal in the women's 49-kg weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics, lifting a total of 210 kg, while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah won the bronze medal. Mirabai Chanu began with an 84kg lift in her first attempt in the snatch segment. Later, the Indian ace improved with an 87kg lift that put her in an advantageous position in the competition. But Mirabai’s momentum was cut short once Hou Zhihui hit her strides with a 88kg lift in her first attempt. Hou Zhihui then set a new Olympic record in the snatch at 94kgs in her third lift.

With her historic triumph, she ensured that India was second on the medals tally, for now, a feat that has never been achieved before by the country. However, she was unable to better her personal best and settled for 87kg in the snatch event only behind leader Zhihui, who created a new Olympic record with an effort of 94kg.