• Ace weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu opened India’s medals tally in Tokyo Olympics as she bagged a silver in the Women’s 49 kg category.
• The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
• It was the first time that India managed to win a medal on the opening day competitions.
• The gold went to China’s Hou Zhihui with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg), who created Olympic records in all three categories (snatch, clean and jerk and Total). Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg).
Other achievements of Mirabai Chanu:
• In 2017, she won gold at the World Weightlifting Championships held in Anaheim, United States.
• Chanu won a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast.
• She was awarded Padma Shri in 2018.
• In 2018, Chanu was conferred with the country’s highest sporting honour — Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
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