As the world eagerly anticipates the upcoming Paris Olympics, India's hopes in weightlifting rest solely on the shoulders of one remarkable athlete—Mirabai Chanu. Amidst the challenges and uncertainties, Mirabai has emerged as the lone Indian weightlifter to secure a berth at the prestigious global event. Her journey from the serene landscapes of Manipur to the grand stage of international competition reflects her grit and determination.

The Indian weightlifter, who took home the silver medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, had been sidelined by injury since the Asian Games in 2023. La Ferte-Milon in Paris will serve as a training ground for Mirabai Chanu as she gets ready for the next Olympic Games. The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has approved her request to train in France.

Mirabai, who took home a silver medal from the Olympics in Tokyo, will go to Paris about a month in advance of this year's Olympics, which is set for July or August, to be ready for her performance. Along with two coaches and a physiotherapist, 29-year-old Mirabai Chanu's expenditures will be paid for by funds from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Her hip injury sustained during the Asian Games in Hangzhou required extensive recovery, which took up much of the second part of last year. However, it is anticipated that the Indian weightlifter will compete in the 2024 IWF World Cup, which is scheduled for April in Thailand, as it is a requirement to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The former world champion is in a strong position to earn a quota in the women's 49kg division since she is placed second in the Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR). She hasn't officially won a quota for Paris 2024 yet. After the qualification window on April 28, the top 10 in the OQR list (limit one per NOC) will guarantee Paris 2024 quotas for their respective nations. Under TOPS financing, equestrian Anush Agarwalla's requests to purchase equipment for his horses and participate in eight events were also granted. Anush has already secured India's dressage quota for Paris 2024. The MOC also accepted shooter Arjun Singh Cheema's request for financial support to compete in ISAS Dortmund and judoka Asmita Dey's demand for financial aid to compete in the Austria Grand Prix.

The Struggles In Her Life ~ 


Struggles Behind the Smile Are Always Hidden Yet Inspiring ~ 
(Source: Google Images) 

Mirabai's journey wasn't a smooth one. She was unable to complete her Olympic journey in Rio. Her career had been greatly impacted by seeing "did not finish" on the scoreboard. She fell into deep despair as a result of the negative feedback she received for her failure. The amazing weightlifter experienced a depressive episode and even went to counseling. Mirabai also decided to stop weightlifting at one time. However, she got back up and recovered with the Commonwealth Games' assistance. She captured the gold medal in 48 kg, capturing the attention of everybody! On Saturday morning, when Mirabai came on TV, feelings were running hot in Nongpok Sekmai, a hamlet in the eastern part of the Imphal Valley. At her house, the locals and neighbors flocked in big numbers to see her performance live on television.
When speaking about her travails, 60-year-old Saikhom Tombi Devi, Mirabai's mother, said that there were times when her daughter would carry firewood to their rented half-acre rice field on her head. "Mirabai is the only one of my six children who used to help me out on the farm and spend time with me. She was continually thinking of ways to lighten my load. I did not doubt that she would win a medal for her nation."Saikhom Tombi D evi said, "I was afraid I was going to pass out while watching that last lift."

Sometimes Mirabai would skip meals to keep her weight stable. The competition prevented her from even being able to attend her sister's wedding. Mirabai has been greatly influenced by weightlifter Kunjurani Devi of Manipur. Kunjurni Devi was the inspiration for Mirabai to take up weightlifting. She used to go 20 kilometers every day for practice when she first started in 2007. She won the Under-15 title when she was 11 years old, and the Junior title when she was 17 years old. If she had not received a summons to compete in the Rio Olympics, her career would have ended. Despite the show's disappointment in Rio, Mirabai made a comeback in Tokyo, motivating a generation to pursue their dreams. Mirabai is from a low-income background. She is a typical girl with lofty goals in life. Even though her family couldn't afford her diet and exercise, she worked on them.  Many young women athletes around the nation now have a flame lit by Mirabai's journey. We wish that more such determined women become proud Indian weightlifters.