Mirabai Chanu from Manipur wins India’s first medal

Agencies

AGARTALA, July 24 2021: Mirabai Chanu brought glory to Indian by opening country's medal count with silver in the 49 kg category of weightlifting.  She comes from Manipur state in India’s northeast.

Mirabai Chanu ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country's account here on Saturday. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

President Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Mirabai Chanu for being the first Indian to clinch a medal in weightlifting at an Olympics event.

Could not have asked for a happier start to @Tokyo2020! India is elated by @mirabai_chanu’s stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indian. #Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/B6uJtDlaJo

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24 2021

President of India Ramnath Kovind also took to twitter to congratulate Mirabai Chanu.

Heartiest congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by winning silver medal in weightlifting.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 24 2021