Mirabai was born on 8 August 1994 inNongpok Kakching[5] about 30 km away fromImphal city,Manipur[6] to aMeitei family, a warrior clan of that region.[7] Chanu identified herself as a follower ofSanamahism and she also stated that she is follower ofHinduism as well.[8] Her family identified her strength when she was just 12. She could easily carry a huge bundle of firewood home when her elder brother found it hard to even pick it up.[9] She trained at the Sports Academy in Manipur. She hitched rides with truck drivers carrying sand. After winning the Olympic medal, she invited the truck drivers to offer her gratitude and touched their feet as a sign of respect.[10]
The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports,Anurag Singh Thakur and other ministers and officials felicitating Tokyo Olympics Silver Medalist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and her coach Vijay Sharma in New Delhi on July 26, 2021.
Mirabai Chanu was officially inducted as an Additional Superintendent of Police[12] (Sports) on January 15, 2022 by the Manipur Police in Imphal. This recognition highlights her significant achievement and contribution to Indian sports.
Chanu qualified for the2016 Rio Olympics in thewomen's 48 kg category. However, she failed to complete the event, owing to no successful lifts in any of her three attempts in the clean & jerk section.[13]
Chanu lifted a total of 196 kg, 86 kg in Snatch, and 110 kg in Clean and Jerk to win the first gold medal for India in the2018 Commonwealth Games.[15] En route to the medal, she broke the game's record for her weight category; the effort also marked her personal best performance.[16] She missed out on a bronze medal in the 49 kg category at2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships with a total lift of 199 kg, her personal best, as her Snatch weight was lower than the third-place athlete, both of whom had identical totals.
At the2019 World Weightlifting Championships, Mirabai lifted a total of 201 kg (87 kg Snatch and 114 kg Clean & Jerk) to finish fourth.[17] This personal best total also created a new national record in the 49 kg category. She broke her personal record again four months later when she lifted 203 kg (88 kg in Snatch and 115 kg in Clean & Jerk,) in the 49 kg category to win the gold medal at the 2020 Senior National Weightlifting Championships.[18]
In April 2021, she won the bronze medal at the2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent where she lifted 86 kg in snatch and then created theworld record by lifting 119 kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 205 kg.[2] In June 2021, Chanu became the only Indian woman weightlifter to qualify for the2020 Summer Olympics[19] by securing a second position on the Absolute Rankings for the 49 kg category.[19][20]
Chanu won the silver medal in49 kg division at the2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with a total lift of 202 kg,[20] becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win silver at the Olympics, the second Indian weightlifter afterKarnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal, and the second Indian woman afterP. V. Sindhu to win an Olympic silver. A newOlympic record was registered by Chanu with a successful lift of 115 kg in clean and jerk.[20][21] Her win ensured India its first medal at theTokyo Olympics.
Aftermath of Tokyo OlympicManipur Chief MinisterN. Biren Singh announced an award of₹1 crore for her.[22] Indian Railway MinisterAshwini Vaishnaw announced an award of ₹2 crores, promotion, and more for her.[23] Domino's Pizza India also offered her free pizza for life.[24][25][26][27]
Chanu won gold medal in 49 kg category at Commonwealth Games 2022 held at Birmingham, England.[28][29] She lifted a total of 201 kg in snatch and cleaned and jerk.[30]
Chanu competed in the49kg weightlifting event at the2022 Asian Games. She finished in 4th position with a total lift of 191 kg—83 kg in Snatch and 108 kg in Clean and Jerk. During her final attempt at 117 kg in Clean and Jerk, she suffered a thigh injury and was unable to complete the lift, missing out on a potential bronze medal.[31]
Mirabai Chanu competed in the women's 49kg weightlifting event at theParis 2024 Olympics.She finished at 4th position in Women's 49kg Weightlifting event by lifting 88Kg in Snatch and 111Kg in Clean and Jerk. Her total of 199Kg was 1Kg short of the result of Thailand'sSurodchana Khambao who finished as the bronze medalist.
A biographical Manipuri feature film on Mirabai Chanu was also announced by Seuti Films. The movie will be directed by OC Meira and screenplay by Manaobi MM.[45]
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