Mirabai Chanu, India’s only weightlifter to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024, is set to compete on Wednesday, aiming to become the first Indian weightlifter to win two Olympic medals. Despite an injury-plagued buildup, Chanu has been training in Paris for a month and has received support from American Dr. Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter-turned-physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach, who has been working with her since 2020.
Chanu has had a challenging Olympic cycle due to injuries and workload management. She suffered a wrist injury in training and then a thigh injury during the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, which kept her out of action for six months. Her return to competition was at the World Cup in Thailand in April, where she managed a twelfth-placed finish to seal her Olympic berth.
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“We know that Mira has to go well beyond the 200kg mark. 202kg will not cut it this time but somewhere around 205-206kg should do it. But we are prepared for the challenge,” coach Vijay Sharma told PTI.
Chanu’s personal best lifts are 88kg in snatch and 119kg in clean and jerk, both achieved at the 2021 Asian Championships. She is targeting a 90kg snatch and a better clean and jerk lift in Paris. However, her recent form has been uncertain, and she has been choosy about her participation in competitions to avoid another injury.
The competition in the 49kg weight category is highly competitive, with reigning Olympic champion China’s Hou Zhihui being the favourite to defend her title. Chanu will need to lift a total of 200kg or more to be in contention for a medal. Her entry weight is set at 200kg, alongside two other competitors, while Zhihui and Romanian Mihaela Cambei have set entry weights of 210kg and 205kg respectively.
Despite the challenges, Chanu is known for her determination and resilience. She has shown her ability to fight through adversity, such as battling intense menstrual cramps to win a medal in Tokyo and attempting a 117kg clean and jerk lift despite injuring herself during the Asian Games.
Source Agencies
