Major General Alok Naresh greets Mirabai Chanu

    25-Jul-2021
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IMPHAL, Jul 24
Major General Alok Naresh, Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) has congratulated star weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu for winning the first silver medal in weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the 49 kg category.
The General officer mentioned that the Mirabai Chanu has created history not only for Manipur but also for the country.
When one of India's greatest moment in weightlifting was being hoisted into reality by legendary Karnam Malleshwari at Sydney Olympics 2000, the State of Manipur was laying the ground for their own moment in the sun, albeit 21 years later, said PRO of IGAR (S) in a press release.
Barring the Beijing Olympics, the State has sent four different women weightlifters over five Olympics. A generational effort that culminated in Saikhom Mirabai Chanu's monstrous 202 kg combined lift for the Tokyo Olympics silver medal in the 49 kg weightlifting category. Two decades of consistently churning out weightlifters that are among the best in the world is Manipur's reminder that the Olympics are not a once-in-four years event, but a way of life, the release said.
Mirabai Chanu was 12 when she first visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Imphal at the Khuman Lampak stadium. Mirabai Chanu got trained at former international weightlifter Anita Chanu's center for four years and would daily traverse 20-odd kms between her home which was based in Nongpok Kakching and Imphal.
Mirabai's determination was second to none. She toiled hard at the young age to adjust her training to her school schedule, it added.
IGAR(S) has also conveyed his best wishes to the Indian contingent in the Tokyo Olympics.