Mumbai: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu opened India’s medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics after winning a silver medal in the women’s 49 kg category.
During her four successful attempts at the competition, Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87 kg in snatch and 115 kg in clean and jerk).
China’s Zhihui Hou won the gold medal with a total of 210kg and set a new Olympic record, while Indonesia’s Windy Kentika Aisha won the bronze with a total of 194kg.
With this monumental silver medal, Chanu has become the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal, after Karnam Malleswari won a bronze medal in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Games when the weightlifting field was opened to women for the first time.
Mirabai made a great start in her first attempt of the snatch by lifting 84kg. The Manipur-born lifter easily completed the 87kg lift but failed to clear the 89kg lift in her last attempt.
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