'Surreal feeling', Mirabai Chanu reacts to Gold Medal win

The 27-year-old shattered the Commonwealth Games record and also equalled her personal best.

Mirabai Chanu delivered on her promise by winning India's first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022. Chanu won gold in women's 49kg weightlifting with a combined lift of 201 kg, giving India its third medal of the day after Sanket Sargar (silver) and Gururaja (bronze). She also equalled her personal best of 88kg in snatch.

Delighted with her win, an elated Mirabai said “I’m very happy that I secured a gold medal in 48kg category and now securing a gold in 49 kg in CWG 2022 is a surreal feeling”. She was talking to the broadcaster Sony following her triumph.

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Mirabai only needed to complete her first attempt in the clean and jerk round, which she did with ease, lifting 105kg to secure the Gold for India. Here are the excerpts from her interview with the broadcaster.

Mirabai Chanu on attempting that 90kg mark

When asked about her failed 90kg snatch attempt, Mirabai replied “I aimed to complete that 90kg snatch as I was doing it in training but unfortunately it didn’t come out today, but yes I very confident about it and hopefully I will touch that 90 kg mark anytime soon.”

Clean and Jerk

She then lifted 113 kg in clean and jerk on her second attempt, confident that she would win gold. She attempted to lift 119 kilograms on her third attempt but was unsuccessful. It didn't matter, though, because she won her second successive gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Mirabai won the competition by lifting 29kg more than the silver medalist, Mauritius' Roilya Ranaivosoa (76 kg + 96 kg).

With a total weight of 171 kilograms, Hannah Kaminsky of Canada won bronze (74 kilograms plus 97 kilograms).

Dedicates medal to coach and family

Olympic medalist and now CWG 2022 India’s first gold medalist said, “I want to dedicate this gold medal to my coach who has worked day in and day out for me, and secondly I want to dedicate it to my family for always standing by my side “

Mirabai Chanu is one of India's most decorated weightlifters. She had previously won silver (2014) and gold (2018) at the Commonwealth Games prior to her victory in 2022. In addition to her gold medal from the 2017 World Championships, she has medals from the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Championships.

Her career high point came in 2012, when she won India's first Olympic weightlifting silver medal, surpassing Karnam Malleswari's bronze medal from Sydney.

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