Hyderabad: She lost, she rose, she conquered. Mirabai Chanu won silver for India in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics in the 49kg category.
This was India's first medal in Tokyo.
Mirabai's tale, from not being able to record a single valid lift at Rio Olympics five years ago to ending at the podium, is an inspirational story that will be told by generations of coaches and storytellers to inspire young players playing the sport.
"I was devastated. I didn't eat for the next few days. I couldn't understand what had happened despite putting in so much of hard work and effort. I promised myself that day to work harder and perform in coming competitions. I believed in myself that I can do it," the weightlifter from Manipur tells Etv Bharat over telephone.
And then her journey of grit and hardwork starts from victory at the World Championship to finally culminating with silver in Tokyo.
Excerpts:
Q. What's it like to win a Silver for India?
A. It's a great feeling. It's hard to describe. I am receiving a lot of love since I came back to India. I got a great reception here and at the airport upon my landing, and I am very happy about it.
Q. So how many pizzas did you eat finally?
A. (Laughs) I ate a lot of pizzas. I am only eating pizzas since I came back to India. I have lost the count.
Q. Five years ago at Rio Olympics, you couldn't record vaild lifts in clean and jerk. You kept fighting. What motivated you?
A. Rio Olympics was my debut and I had put in a lot of hardwork in my preparations. I had a chance of clinching a medal in Rio too. In fact, what I lifted during the trials in Rio, I would have gotten a silver if I had replicated the same in the main event. Perhaps, it was not my day. I was very sad for not being able to get medal for the country. I couldn't understand what had happened despite putting so much of hardwork and effort. I was devastated. I didn't eat for the next few days. My family and Vijay sir were with me. I remember Vijay sir telling me what has happened has happened and there are plenty of competitions ahead. He told me I am young and can still do it. I promised myself that day to work harder and perform in coming competitions. I believed in myself that I can do it. When I came back to India, my mother was with me. She pacified me to a great extent. She motivated me to do well in coming competitions. I changed my training and technique after discussions with Vijay sir. I quickly recovered and started feeling good about myself. I became world champion after that. My performance in world championship gave me a lot of strength do well and I never lost hope after that.
Q. What was your toughest period during the lockdown?
A. I didn't train for two months. Weightlifting is something where you have to start from scratch if you don't train even for a single day. It was a difficult period for me to be away from training. There was muscle loss too in my body. I was in Patiala at that time and I requested for resumption of training. I requested the sports minister that my training for Asian Championship qualifiers and Olympics will all go to waste if I don't start training. I started my training after two months but I wasn't able to train due to stiffness in muscles. It was a difficult period.
Q. You have been away from home for a long time. Tell us, what is the biggest sacrifice you have made until now?
A. My elder sister was getting married on Novermeber 27 when I became World Champion in 2016. The competition itself was in November. I had to miss my sister's marriage to become World Champion. There are plently of sacrifices that I made and this is one of them. I sacrificed on foods I liked in order to maintain my diet. I didn't attend functions and parties. I didn't use phone because I wanted to do something for India. My only focus was training.
Q. Any thoughts on changing the colour of medal at Paris Olympics?
A. For now I am very happy with silver medal. Commonwealth Games and Asian Games are there in 2022. I will try to do well in those competitions and then Paris Olympics where I will look to change the colour of my medal from Silver to Gold.
Q. What plans now?
A. I am enjoying with everyone. I am meeting many people. They are coming to meet me and I am receiving lots of love.I will enjoy with all of them and will resume my training soon.
-- By Ayushmaan Pandey
