Mirabai Chanu returns to warm reception
Source: Chronicle News Service

New Delhi, July 26 2021: Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu returned to the country on Monday after her superb silver medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics and was greeted enthusiastically at the airport.

Mirabai Chanu walked out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, flanked by security and clad in a face shield and mask.

"Happy to be back here amidst so much love and support.

Thank You so much," she tweeted after landing.

The 26-year-old was greeted with chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and felicitated by officials of the Sports Authority of India among others.

On Saturday, the diminutive Manipuri lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg + 115kg) in the 49kg category to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

With that performance, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift, leaving her shattered.

Chanu has also been a former world champion and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

She was training in the USA before the Games and lived up to the medal expectations from her with a confident performance.

Meanwhile, both the Houses of Parliament on Monday congratulated Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said: "I am extremely happy to inform you that Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the Olympics.

I congratulate her on behalf of the House and myself.

I hope that other athletes will also perform well in their respective games and bring laurels for the country" .

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