Mirabai wants to upgrade Tokyo silver to gold at Paris
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 02 2021: Saikhom Mirabai Chanu wants to upgrade the silver medal she won at the Tokyo Olympic-2020 to Gold at Paris Olympic-2024 and hopes to achieve this with the blessing of her teachers and coaches.

The champion weightlifter, who brought laurels to the state and the country by winning the silver medal in 49kg category of women weight lifting in the ongoing Tokyo Olympic-2020, was felicitated by Manipur Weightlifting Association.

Addressing gathering at the felicitation ceremony held at Olympic Bhavan, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex here on Monday, Mirabai said that she wants to upgrade the silver medal she won at Tokyo Olympics to gold in the next Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France and this could be achieved with the blessings of her teachers and coaches.

While praising her teachers and coaches, Mirabai said she would not have achieved the feat without their blessings and guidance and will continue to worship them for achieving more success and glory.

According to Mirabai, her determination and hard work to lift weightlifting discipline to a higher level in Manipur and India paid off and won silver medal in Tokyo games.

People praised and encouraged her but sportspersons cannot be contented with such praises and have to concentrate on facing further competitions, she said, adding that she is planning to attend India camp and likely to leave Manipur on August 10.Mirabai informed the gathering that she has been intimated by Indian Weightlifting Federation to attend a national camp to prepare for a qualifying event for 2022 Brihingam Commonwealth Games.

Expressing her hope of taking weightlifting to a higher level in Manipur, Mirabai said that the level of popularity of weightlifting is still very low in Manipur and participation of boys in this game is very few.

Mirabai said that she was sad when she saw only one or two weightlifters from Manipur during any national camp.

Taking advantage of the felicitation event, Mirabai assured of extending every possible help including financial matter from her side to the state weightlifting team which is set to participate in the national weightlifting championship due to commence from August 9.The event was also attended by Manipur Olympic Association president M Lokendro, association secretary Sunil Elangbam, Mirabai's father Kriti and mother Tombi Leima, coaches Anita Chanu, Projen and Ranjan.

All of them joined together in cutting a cake made in honour of Mirabai's success.

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