Mirabai Chanu, who was touted as one of the brightest medal prospects for India, had failed to lift the weight in any of her three attempts in clean and jerk in the women’s 48kg.
Cut to 2021, Mirabai has brushed aside the Rio disappointment and is now focused on winning a long-pending medal for the country. Speaking at a virtual media interaction held by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Mirabai shed light on her growth since the Rio disappointment.
Last week, Mirabai set the bar high with a world record lift of 119kg in clean and jerk to bag bronze in the 49kg category at the Asian Championships.
Also Read: Can Mirabai Chanu end India’s 2-decade-long Olympic medal drought in weightlifting?
No pain, no gain: Mirabai Chanu
Back in 2018, a lower-back injury prompted Mirabai to pull out of the Asian Games and the World Championships. Three years down the line, injuries continue to play a big part in her training routines. With injuries being a decisive factor in the sport, she understands the importance of being fit which will heighten her medal chances in Tokyo.
Mirabai on ending Chinese dominance at the Tokyo Olympics
With North Korea pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics, it is believed to be a good opportunity for Mirabai to strike gold for the country, in case she punches her ticket to Tokyo.
Also Read: “I need to better my current personal best to be in medal contention at Tokyo Olympics,” says Indian Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu
The women’s 49kg event will be the most keenly contested with either of the two world champions Hou Zhihui and Jiang Huihua seen as China’s biggest threats in the discipline. High on confidence, Mirabai will seek to end the dominance of Chinese weightlifters at the Olympics.
Also Read: Once unable to afford a glass of milk, Mirabai Chanu has charted an unlikely Rio Olympic journey
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