Tokyo 2020: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu opens India's medal tally

Ace weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu opened India's medals tally as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category here at Tokyo International Forum. She ended India's two-decade-long wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics.

Mirabai Chanu ended India's over two-decade long wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics, clinching the 49kg category silver medal. Credit: PTI Photo

With her historic triumph, she ensured that India was briefly second on the medals tally, a feat that has never been achieved before by the country. Credit: PTI Photo

Mirabai Chanu congratulates Hou Zhihui and Aisah Windy Cantika during the presentation ceremony of women's 49 Kg category weightlifting at the Summer Olympics 2020, in Tokyo. Credit: PTI Photo

The diminutive iron lady from Manipur lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Credit: PTI Photo

With this, she exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift, leaving her shattered. Credit: PTI Photo

Considered her weakness in the run up to the marquee event, Chanu attempted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. Credit: PTI Photo

She lifted 87kg in her next attempt and raised the weight to 89kg, which was 1kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year. Credit: PTI Photo

Her smile shone the brightest during the entire performance but also hard to miss were the Olympic rings' shaped earrings that she was sporting, which were a gift from her mother. Credit: PTI Photo

Later she broke into a punjabi bhangra too to celebrate the historic podium finish. Credit: PTI Photo