With this victory, she secured her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, having previously won in 2018 and 2022.
Upon winning her third Commonwealth gold, Mirabai Chanu said, “Every gold medal is special because each has its own story. This one is different because I had to overcome many challenges. Managing my weight, recovering from injuries, and dealing with pain made this journey very difficult.” In fact, to manage her weight, she had to go without food for three days prior to the competition and consumed very little water.
The most emotional moment came when India’s national anthem echoed through the stadium in her honor after she was awarded the gold medal. Tears streamed down Chanu’s face—tears of joy and pride that also washed away the suffering and pain she had endured to win this medal.
Nation extends congratulations:
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have congratulated Mirabai Chanu on this achievement. The President remarked that she demonstrated extraordinary courage, determination, and an outstanding performance. The Vice President praised her dedication, resilience in the face of challenges, and consistent excellence, while the Prime Minister hailed the victory as another magnificent chapter in Indian weightlifting, called her a source of inspiration, and wished her continued success.
Struggles in life:
Born on August 8, 1994, Mirabai Chanu was the youngest of six children in an ordinary family from Manipur. Her father, Saikhom Kriti Meitei, worked in the state’s Public Works Department. To meet the needs of a large family, additional income was required; consequently, her mother, Saikhom Tombi Devi, started a small tea and snacks stall in the village.
To attend training sessions in Imphal, Mirabai Chanu had to travel approximately 30 kilometers daily from her village. Since the family could not afford private transport every day, Chanu often hitched rides on trucks transporting sand. Thus, the truck drivers who regularly traveled that route became an integral part of her commute during the early years of her weightlifting career.
Mirabai Chanu’s Achievements:
She won a silver medal in the women’s 49 kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. On April 17, 2021, she set a world record in the ‘clean and jerk’ category at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships by lifting 119 kg (262 lbs) in the 49 kg weight class; she held this record until September 5, 2023.
Mirabai Chanu won a gold medal at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships. She has also won two silver medals at the World Weightlifting Championships. In 2018, the Government of India honored Mirabai Chanu with the ‘Padma Shri’—India’s fourth-highest civilian award—and the ‘Khel Ratna Award,’ the country’s highest honor in the field of sports.
In 2022, she joined the Manipur Police, where she holds the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports).
