Lifter Chanu ends 22-yr gold drought at Worlds

Anaheim: Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian in over two decades to claim a gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championship in Anaheim, USA, exorcising the ghosts of her forgettable outing at the Rio Olympics.

Chanu, who is employed with the Indian Railways, lifted 85kg in snatch and 109kg in clean and jerk to total an impressive 194kg in the women's 48kg, setting a new national record in the process.

Seeing the tricolour from the podium, tears of joy rolled down her cheeks, as Chanu picked up a rare honour for an Indian at the marquee event.
Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleshwari had won the top prize in worlds twice -- in 1994 and 1995.

Chanu's outing in Anaheim was very different from the way things panned out in Rio last year when she put up a disappointing performance as she could not get an overall total in women's 48kg after failing to lift the weight in any of her three attempts in clean & jerk section.

In a field of 12 lifters at the Rio Games, she was one of two lifters who did not finish (DNF) her event. Thailand's Sukcharoen Thunya won the silver medal with a total lift of 193, while Colombian Segura Ana Iris bagged the bronze with 182kg.

Vietnam had a one-two finish in the men's 56kg, and Francisco Mosquera Valencia of Colombia became the first non-Asian winner at 62kg since 2003.

In the 56kg weight class Vietnam's Thach Kim, who had finished on the podium behind the North Korean Om Yun-chol in the past three World Championships, lifted 279kg to beat compatriot Tran Le Quoc and Thailand's Witoon Mingmoon.

Mosquera Valencia, a silver medallist in 2015, made up a six kilogram deficit in the snatch to win the 62kg with a total of 300kg from Japan's Yoichi Itokazu and Georgia's Shota Mishvelidze.

North Korea did not enter this year, while nine other leading nations are banned for doping offences. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed Saikhom Mirabai Chanu’s gold-medal winning effort

“India is proud of Mirabai Chanu, who has won a gold at the World Weightlifting Championship. Congratulations and best wishes for her future endeavours,” PM Modi wrote on his twitter handle.

The President’s Office said in a tweet, “Congratulations Mirabai Chanu for winning a gold medal in the World Weightlifting Championship. India is so proud of you. And congratulations Manipur for giving the country such a wonderful series of champion sportswomen!”

Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was also prompt in congratulating Chanu. “Saikhom Mirabai Chanu wins #Gold in 2017 IWF Senior Men & Women #weightlifting championships in Anaheim, USA.

In the 48 kg weight category, her total lift was 194 kg. That’s 4 times her bodyweight. In sports, and in life, ‘Will’ is everything. Never, EVER give up.”

Olympic medallist and five-time world champion MC Mary Kom said, “Congratulations #MirabaiChanu on lifting #Gold at #WorldWeightliftingChampionship and becoming 2nd Indian after Karnam Malleshwari 2 bring the glory 2 our country. She created a new record by lifting total of 194kgs of weight in women’s 48kg category.”

Vijender Singh, also joined the country in congratulating the 23-year-old weightlifter. He wrote, “Another Indian women athlete creates history today. India’s #MirabaiChanu lifts 194kg at the World Weightlifting Championship. She is the second Indian after Karnam Malleswari to win gold. You Women Never Fail To Make India Proud !!! Salute ????.