Mirabai Chanu Clinches Third Gold at Commonwealth Games
Mirabai Chanu Dominates Weightlifting Again
On Sunday, Mirabai Chanu secured her third consecutive gold medal in the women's 48kg category at the Commonwealth Games, reaffirming her status as the leading figure in Indian weightlifting. The only uncertainty was the extent of her performance, as the outcome was never in doubt. With remarkable strength and composure, the Manipuri athlete set new records, showcasing her prowess. Despite fasting for days to meet weight requirements, the 31-year-old broke both Commonwealth and Commonwealth Games records in the snatch, while also establishing new benchmarks in clean and jerk and total weight lifted. She achieved a top snatch of 85 kg and a clean and jerk of 105 kg, culminating in a total lift of 190 kg. Overwhelmed with emotion, she sang the national anthem on the podium, tears of joy streaming down her face, adorned with three-colored ribbons in her hair.
Emotional Moments for Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu Gets Emotional
"Jaldi jaldi karo, maine kuch khaaya nahi hai 2 din se (please do this quickly I haven't eaten in 2 days)," was Mirabai's initial remark to the media. The silver medalist from Tokyo had a heartfelt day, breaking down while expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from her mother and coach, Vijay Sharma. "They have been my backbone. I felt immense pressure from family and friends, and I’m thrilled to secure the third gold for India. Initially, I didn’t plan to exert myself too much in these Games, but after failing my first attempt, I had to push harder. My coach and I had anticipated two lifts each," she shared post-victory.
Mirabai's Journey to Gold
Mirabai Wins Third Consecutive Gold
While others completed their attempts, Mirabai's competition began. There were moments of tension, especially when she missed her first snatch attempt at 82 kg. However, true to her champion spirit, she quickly regained her focus and smashed the Commonwealth record by lifting 82 kg with determination. Even during the clean and jerk, she faced a brief setback, failing her opening lift. Yet, the Olympic medalist responded with resilience, successfully lifting 105 kg on her second attempt. This achievement not only secured her gold but also set a new overall lift record and broke the clean and jerk record at the Commonwealth Games.