Mirabai Chanu's bid for a second consecutive Olympic medal ended in heartbreak as the Indian weightlifter finished fourth at the Paris Games, falling short of her best performance.
Despite her experience and past achievements, including a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Chanu struggled in Paris, missing three of her six lifts, including two in the clean and jerk, her strongest event.
Chanu's campaign began with promise as she matched her national record with an 88kg snatch, placing her in third. However, her attempts to close the gap in the clean and jerk fell short. A final attempt at 114kg, which could have secured her a bronze, was unsuccessful.
Chanu’s total of 199kg was just one kilogram shy of the bronze medal, highlighting how close she came to the podium.
National coach Vijay Sharma had anticipated that a total of 205-206kg would be necessary to win gold, but Chanu’s execution faltered.
Had she matched her personal best in the clean and jerk, she might have been in contention for the top spot.
Chanu’s preparation for the Paris Games was hampered by injuries, including a wrist issue that surfaced during the 2023 World Championships, where she still managed to win silver.
She also dealt with hip tendonitis at the Asian Games. Despite the Sports Ministry investing Rs 2.74 crore in her training, including stints in the United States with Dr. Aaron Horschig, Chanu competed in only five tournaments between Tokyo and Paris.
At 30, Chanu has shouldered the burden of being India’s sole weightlifting hope for years. Her struggles in Paris underscore the need for the Indian Weightlifting Federation to cultivate a new generation of talent to succeed her.
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