Want to win medal in 2020 Olympics, says Mirabai Chanu

Want to win medal in 2020 Olympics, says Mirabai Chanu

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2017 World Weightlifting Championship gold medallist Mirabai Chanu has stated that she is aiming a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Commonwealth Games gold medalist has now recovered from the back injury that had prompted her to take a break and she has started training in Patiala.

The 24-year-old weightlifter has come a long way since her childhood days when she used to help her mother by lifting firewood from the nearby hills so that she could cook for the family. She has been the country's biggest medal hope in major competitions in the last few years. And after recovering from the back injury that had forced her to pull out of 2018 Asian Games, Chanu is now burning with desire for a podium finish in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

“I will try my level best to win medal in the next Olympics. I have fully recovered from injury and have also started training in Patiala with an eye on the podium finish in Tokyo,” Chanu, who is the only second Indian after Karnam Malleswari to win gold at the World Weightlifting Championship which the former won in 2017, said Chanu reported TOI. 

In 2014, Chanu had won the silver medal in Commonwealth Games and has since then only improved her performance with a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games earlier this year. Despite her absence, India performed brilliantly at the Asian Games and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee sounded overwhelmed with it. 

“India won many medals in Asian Games. The Indian government has been extending good support to sports through various schemes and sporting events. Jakarta medal tally was a reflection of that,” said Chanu. 

Chanu was also only the second Indian after Karnam Malleswari to win gold at the World weightlifting championship in 2017. At the programme organized by Rashtra Sevika Samiti at Madhav Nagar ground in Nagpur, she expressed her struggling sporting journey, how she made diligent efforts and took measured pauses in her entire career till date.

The weightlifter with North-East India roots was stuttering while speaking as she detailed the effortful childhood that helped her to stay dedicated and aspired to elevate in sports. The Padma Shri Mirabai also stated the girls are taking interest in playing for the country that is creating a strong future of the country. 

“In North-East India, everyone has a special liking for sports and that liking help them aspire to play for the country. There is nothing special in us. I feel, power comes naturally to us. Our diets are full of natural food products that helps a lot. Girls are mostly in farms which assists them in staying physically strong,” she said.

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