Mirabai, mom indebted to truckers, want to repay
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 29 2021: While recalling that she used to face transportation issues while travelling to Khuman Lampak from her home for training, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu expressed her keen desire to honour and repay those truck drivers who gave her free ride.

Although there were vehicles offering passenger service at that time, they would only leave when the seats were completely occupied though she needed to reach Khuman Lampak early, Mirabai recalled responding to queries regarding the truck drivers carrying soil from Itham Moirangpurel who helped her reach Khuman Lampak.

Former National People's Party (NPP) candidate in Wangoi AC Khuraijam Loken on Thursday presented Rs 1 lakh to Mirabai Chanu.

Interacting with some media persons on the occasion, Mirabai said it became a daily routine for her to travel along with the truck drivers carrying soil from Itham Moirangpurel to go to the training centre.

She gradually became friends with the truck drivers, many of whom often stopped in front of her home and blew the horn to take her to her training centre.

Even on days Mirabai did not go, the kind-hearted truck drivers would stop by her house and enquire if she was planning to go for training or not, she recounted.

"Although I still remember some of them, there are many truck drivers I cannot remember.

I will forever be grateful for the support they gave me back then so that I could go to Khuman Lampak for training.

As such, I plan to trace all those who helped me back then and repay for the support they extended," Mirabai confided.

Mirabai's mother Tombi also expressed her wish to find the truck drivers who supported her daughter back then, thereby helping her (Mirabai) to become a successful sportsperson today.

Meanwhile, presenting the monetary incentive to the Olympian at her Nongpok Kakching residence, Loken recounted his younger days as a national level volleyball player with limited resources and poor financial background.

Thus, he expressed a sense of familiarity with Mirabai who shared the same background like him and as such, extended the monetary award as a form of encouragement and assistance.

Stating that Mirabai's win at the Tokyo Olympics is a moment of pride for the state, Loken expressed his elation and said that the Olympian has brought glory and recognition to the state.

Such feats will surely bring an end to the discrimination and indifference faced by northeasterners including Manipur in mainland India.

"I did not give the money to Mirabai just because I have the means but because I am proud of her and to show an example to all that hard work begets success", he said, while urging Mirabai to work harder so as to win a gold medal in the next Olympic games.

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