look news india
New Delhi, September 18 (HS). Veteran weightlifting coach Vijay Sharma said that Saikhom Mirabai Chanu still has a lot left in her. The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist finished fourth at the Paris Olympics last month and missed out on a bronze medal in the women's 49kg category.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Women’s Weightlifting League in Modinagar last week, Sharma, who has been working with Mirabai since 2014, said, “After Paris, both of us discussed the future and decided that Mirabai should continue with competitive weightlifting.”
In a tough competition in Paris, Mirabai was defeated by Surodchan Khambao of Thailand in the bronze medal bout. Khambao lifted a total of 200 kg (88 snatch + 112 kg clean and jerk), while Mirabai lifted 199 (88 + 111) kg. China's Houzhihui (206 kg) retained her gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, while reigning European champion Mihaela Cambei (205 kg) of Romania won the silver medal.
Sharma, who is developing a weightlifting facility in Modinagar, told SAI media, “I have been working with Mirabai since 2014 and she is a very disciplined athlete. Mirabai finished fourth in Paris and we both feel there is still some work to be done. We are looking at the next Commonwealth Games (in 2026) and Asian Games (in Nagoya, Japan in 2026). She does not have an Asian Games medal in her cabinet and we will do everything possible to get that.”
The Hangzhou Asian Games held in 2023 turned out to be a nightmare for Mirabai. Just short of winning her first Asian Games medal, the 29-year-old Manipuri weightlifter suffered a hip injury and was out for five months. She made a brilliant recovery and made it to the Paris Olympics as a medal hope.
“I did my best and am happy with where I performed after coming back from injury,” Mirabai said
The national coach said the future of weightlifting in India depends on how hard the women work.
He said, “In India, women's weightlifting has a bright future. You must have seen how Karnam Malleswari won an Olympic medal in 2000, then Mirabai Chanu in 2020…I have been in weightlifting for 25 years, I can firmly say that only women can get us Olympic medals in 2028 and 2032. Men will have to work really hard to live up to the Olympic expectations.”