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SEE: Friends, family ecstatic as Mirabai wins Olympic medal

July 24, 2021 16:00 IST

Mirabai Chanu won weightlifting silver at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday

IMAGE: Mirabai Chanu Saikhom celebrates after winning silver in the Weightlifting Women's 49kg Group A event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on Saturday. Photograph: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Lifter Mirabai Chanu Saikhom ended India's 21-year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 49kg category to open India’s account on Saturday.

The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Friends and family were joyous after Mirabai’s medal-winning lift on Saturday.

The Chanu household at Nongpok Kakching village, around 25km from Manipur capital Imphal, had visitors since Friday despite the curfew caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will certainly be a day etched in their memories for years to come.

Rediff Sports