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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Mirabai Chanu bring a ladder? To take her weight to new heights.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu at the 2016 South Asian Games
Personal information
Full nameMirabai Chanu Saikhom
Born (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 (age 31)
Nongpok Kakching, Manipur, India
Height1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Police career
BranchManipur Police
Service years2022–present
RankAdditional Superintendent of Police
AwardsKhel Ratna Award
Padma Shri
Sport
SportWeightlifting
Event
49 kg
Coached by
  • Vijay Sharma[1]
  • Aaron Horschig[2]
Achievements and titles
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2020
World finals
1st place, gold medalist(s) 2017 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2022 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2025

Mirabai Chanu Saikhom (born 9 August 1994) is an Indian weightlifter. She won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the women's 49 kg event. On 17 April 2021, she set a world record in clean & jerk in the 49 kg category with a lift of 119 kg (262 lb) in the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships, a record which she held till 5 September 2023.

Mirabai Chanu won a gold medal in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships. She has also won two silver medals at the World Weightlifting Championships. She has won three gold medals and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. In the 49 kg weight class, she set a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch, clean & jerk, and overall categories in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which she bettered in the 2022 and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Mirabai Chanu was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, and Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honour, by the Government of India in 2018. In 2022, she joined the I-League football club NEROCA FC as its brand ambassador.[3]

Early and personal life

[edit]

Mirabai Chanu Saikhom was born on 8 August 1994 in Nongpok Kakching, Imphal East district, Manipur,[4][5] to Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima and Saikhom Kriti Meitei.[6][7] She is the youngest of the six siblings.[8] She was named Mirabai as suggested by one of her sisters, who had a friend of the same name. Saikhom is a clan name commonly used by the Meitei people and Chanu is a name suffix used by unmarried girls of the community. Mirabai has identified herself as a follower of Sanamahism.[9]

At the age of 12, Mirabai Chanu was able to carry a bundle of firewood which her elder brothers had found it hard.[8][10] She soon started formal training at the Sports Academy at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium complex in Imphal.[9] During her early days, she often hitched rides with truck drivers carrying sand to travel from her hometown to Imphal.[11]

Career

[edit]

Early career (2013–2016)

[edit]

Mirabai Chanu won her first major medal at the 2013 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships held in Batu Uban in November 2013. She won the gold medal in the 48 kg weight category with a combined lift of 166 kg (366 lb).[12] In the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, she won a silver medal in the 48 kg category. She lifted a total of 170 kg (370 lb), and finished behind compatriot Khumukcham Sanjita, who won the gold medal with a lift of 173 kg (381 lb).[13][14] She qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in the women's 48 kg category. However, she was not classified in the final results, as she did not have a legal lift in any of her three attempts in clean & jerk.[15]

World Championship and Commonwealth Games wins (2017–2020)

[edit]

On 30 November 2017, Mirabai Chanu won the gold medal in the women's 48 kg category in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships held at Anaheim, California. She set a new competition record with a total lift of 194 kg (428 lb), including 85 kg (187 lb) in snatch and 109 kg (240 lb) in clean & jerk.[16][17] In the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia, she won a gold medal in the women's 48 kg category.[14] She lifted a total of 196 kg (432 lb) with 86 kg (190 lb) in snatch and 110 kg (240 lb) in clean & jerk while she set Commonwealth Games records and personal bests in all the three.[18][19] She took part in the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships at Ningbo, but did not win a medal.[20]

At the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Mirabai Chanu lifted a total of 201 kg (443 lb) with 87 kg (192 lb) in snatch and 114 kg (251 lb) in clean & jerk to finish fourth.[21] In the 2020 Senior National Weightlifting Championships, she set a new personal best and a national record in the 49 kg category when she lifted 203 kg (448 lb) including 88 kg (194 lb) in snatch and 115 kg (254 lb) in clean & jerk.[22] In April 2021, she won a bronze medal at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent after she lifted 86 kg (190 lb) in snatch and 119 kg (262 lb) in the clean & jerk for a total of 205 kg (452 lb).[2] She set a new clean & jerk world record for the women's 49 kg category with her 119 kg (262 lb) lift,[23] a record which was later broken by Jiang Huihua on 5 September 2023.[24]

Olympic medal and subsequent success (2021–2023)

[edit]
Chanu (center right) being felicitated by the Government of India for her achievement in the 2020 Summer Olympics

In June 2021, Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian woman weightlifter to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics after she securing a quota based on the International Weightlifting Federation rankings.[25][26] Competing in the women's 49 kg category at the Olympics in Tokyo, she lifted 87 kg (192 lb) in snatch and failed in an attempt to lift 92 kg (203 lb). She lifted 115 kg (254 lb) in clean & jerk in her second attempt and failed to clear 117 kg (258 lb) in her last attempt. She won the silver medal with a total lift of 202 kg (445 lb), while Hou Zhihui won the gold with a 210 kg (460 lb) lift. Thus, she won India's first ever Olympic medal in weightlifing, and she became the second Indian weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari, to win an Olympic medal.[27][28] She also became only the second Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal after P. V. Sindhu in 2016.[8]

In the 2022 Commonwealth Games held at Birmingham, Mirabai Chanu won a second consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in women's 49 kg category. She lifted a total of 201 kg (443 lb) with 88 kg (194 lb) in snatch and 113 kg (249 lb) in clean & jerk, while breaking her own records in all the three which were set at the previous edition in 2018.[29][30] She finished in fourth in the women's 49kg weightlifting event at the 2022 Asian Games with a total lift of 191 kg (421 lb) with 83 kg (183 lb) in snatch and 108 kg (238 lb) in clean & jerk. During her final attempt at 117 kg (258 lb) in clean & jerk, she suffered a thigh injury and was unable to complete the lift.[31] In December 2022, she won a silver medal in the women's 49 kg category in the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships held at Bogota with a total lift of 200 kg (440 lb).[32]

Later years (2024-present)

[edit]

Mirabai Chanu's silver medal win in the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships enabled her to qualify for her third straight Summer Olympics.[33][34] She was the only Indian weightlifter to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[35] She competed in the women's 49 kg weightlifting event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She lifted 88 kg (194 lb) in snatch and 111 kg (245 lb) in clean & jerk, which was way below her personal best of 119 kg (262 lb). With a total of 199 kg (439 lb), she narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, which was won by Thailand's Surodchana Khambao with a 200 kg (440 lb) total.[36][37]

In October 2025, Mirabai Chanu won her second silver medal in the World Weightlifting Championships. She finished second in the 48 kg category with a total lift of 199 kg (439 lb).[38] In February 2026, during the Senior National Weightlifting Championships, she set three new national records with a 89 kg (196 lb) lift in snatch and 116 kg (256 lb) lift in clean & jerk, for a total of 205 kg (452 lb).[39] In the 2026 Commonwealth Games held at Glasgow, she won a third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in women's 48 kg category. She lifted a total of 190 kg (420 lb) with 85 kg (187 lb) in snatch and 105 kg (231 lb) in clean & jerk, while setting three new Commonwealth Games records.[40]

Key results

[edit]
Year Venue Weight Snatch (kg) Clean & Jerk (kg) Total Rank
1 2 3 Rank 1 2 3 Rank
Summer Olympics
2016Rio de Janeiro, Brazil48 kg828284N/a103106106N/aDNF
2020Tokyo, Japan49 kg848789N/a110115117N/a2022nd place, silver medalist(s)
2024Paris, France 49 kg 85 88 88 N/a 111 111 114 N/a 199 4
World Championships
2017Anaheim, United States48 kg8385852nd place, silver medalist(s)1031071091st place, gold medalist(s)1941st place, gold medalist(s)
2019Pattaya, Thailand49 kg848789511111411842014
2022Bogotá, Colombia49 kg84878751111111132nd place, silver medalist(s)2002nd place, silver medalist(s)
2025Førde, Norway48 kg8487873rd place, bronze medalist(s)1091121152nd place, silver medalist(s)1992nd place, silver medalist(s)
IWF World Cup
2024Phuket, Thailand59 kg7579811398103106918412
Asian Games
2014Incheon, South Korea48 kg707375N/a909396N/a1719
2023Hangzhou, China49 kg838686N/a108117117N/a1914
Asian Championships
2016Tashkent, Uzbekistan48 kg818184710210610861907
2019Ningbo, China49 kg83868641091131153rd place, bronze medalist(s)1994
2021Tashkent, Uzbekistan49 kg8585864113117119 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)2053rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2023Jinju, South Korea49 kg858888510961946
Commonwealth Games
2014Glasgow, United Kingdom48 kg727575N/a929598N/a1702nd place, silver medalist(s)
2018Gold Coast, Australia48 kg808486 CR GRN/a103107110 CR GRN/a196 CR GR1st place, gold medalist(s)
2022Birmingham, United Kingdom49 kg8488 CR GR90N/a109113 GR120N/a201 GR1st place, gold medalist(s)
2026Glasgow, United Kingdom48 kg828285 CR GRN/a105105 GRN/aN/a190 GR1st place, gold medalist(s)

Awards and honours

[edit]
Chanu receiving the Khel Ratna Award from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018
Chanu (center) being inducted as an Additional Superintendent of Police in the Manipur Police on 15 January 2022

On 15 January 2022, Mirabai Chanu was given an honourary appointment as an Additional Superintendent of Police in the Manipur Police in recognition of her achievements in sports.[41]

Individual honours

[edit]

Others

[edit]

The Government of Manipur awarded 2 million (US$21,000) to Mirabai Chanu after she won a gold medal in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships.[45] It awarded 1 million (US$10,000) after she qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics,[46] and a further 2.5 million (US$26,000) for her participation in the Olympics.[47] After she won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, the Ministry of Railways announced a cash reward of 20 million (US$210,000) and a promotion in her job in the Indian Railways.[48][49] She was awarded 10 million (US$100,000) from the Government of Manipur,[50][51] 5 million (US$52,000) from the Government of India,[52] and 4 million (US$42,000) from the Indian Olympic Association.[53] She also received 10 million (US$100,000) from BYJU'S,[54] and 5 million (US$52,000) from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.[55]

[edit]

Mei Iklaba Thamoi is a Shumang Kumhei (theater art in Meitei language) based on the life of Mirabai Chanu, directed by Shougrakpam Hemanta, and released on 19 September 2021.[56] In 2021, a Metei language feature film, based on Mirabai Chanu's life, was announced by Seuti Films, and was to be directed by OC Meira.[57]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  2. 1 2 Deka, Kaushik (19 July 2021). "Lifting hope | Saikhom Mirabai Chanu". India Today. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. Pakrashi, Sudeep (11 August 2023). "NEROCA FC to strengthen team, plans to invite Mirabai Chanu to motivate the boys before I-League". Parallel Sports. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  4. "Mirabai Chanu Saikom". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  5. Sirur, Simrin (25 July 2021). "In her Manipur village, Mirabai Chanu's family prepared for a feast to celebrate Olympic feat". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. Ratnadip, Choudhury (24 July 2021). "First Reaction From Mirabai Chanu's Family, Neighbours In Manipur On Her Silver". NDTV. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. "Mirabai Chanu's parents in tears after daughter wins silver in Tokyo Olympics". Hindustan Times. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
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  25. Sen, Rohan (12 June 2021). "Tokyo Olympics: Mirabai Chanu becomes first Indian weightlifter to qualify for 2021 Summer Games". India Today. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  26. Kumar, Saurabh (24 July 2021). "Tokyo 2020: Mirabai Chanu becomes first Indian weightlifter to win silver in Olympics". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
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  33. Lloyd, Owen (30 September 2022). "IWF delegation travels to Colombia before World Championships". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
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  40. "Results, Women's weightlifting, 48 kg". Glasgow 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  41. Nalwala, Ali Asgar (16 January 2022). "Mirabai Chanu inducted as Additional Superintendent of Police in Manipur". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  42. "Padma awards 2018 announced, MoS Dhoni, Sharda Sinha among 85 recipients". India TV. 25 January 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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  44. "TOISA 2021: Neeraj Chopra headlines the list of winners". The Times of India. New Delhi. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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  46. "Manipur star weightlifter receives ₹10 lakh incentive from state govt". The Northeast Today. 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
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  53. "Tokyo Olympics: Coaches of gold winners to get ₹12.5 lakh from IOA, Chanu coach to get ₹10 lakh". The Hindustan Times. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  54. "Tokyo Olympics 2020: BYJU'S announces Rs 2 crore for Neeraj Chopra, Rs 1 crore each for other medallists". The Times of India. 8 August 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
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  56. "Shumang Leela based on Mirabai soon". E-pao. 30 July 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  57. "Biopic feature on Mirabai Chanu to be made". Imphal Free Press. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
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