The family members of Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won a historic silver medal in the women's 49 kg category at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, are elated by her success, though they expected her to strike gold.
On Saturday morning, the diminutive Manipur lifter opened India's account at Tokyo Games in style, winning silver in the women's 49 kg category. Chanu lifted 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari's bronze in 2000 Sydney Olympics. China's Zhihui Hou took the gold with 210 kg, while Windy Cantika of Indonesia finishes 3rd (194 kg).
Chanu's elder brother Binod Meitei said that after winning the silver, she called her mother Saikhom Tombi to share the good news, adding that the lifter had also called before the completion got underway.
"Though Chanu could not secure the gold, we are very much happy and thrilled by her performance. The silver medal is like a gold for all of us," Binod told IANS over phone from the Nongpok Kakching village in Imphal East district in Manipur.
Chanu belongs to a low-income family comprising eight members, most of whom are into farm work.
Saikhom Kriti Meitei, Chanu's father, said that they saw their daughter's triumphant performance live on television with tears of joy in their eyes, as their daughter made the country proud in an international platform.
"All her hard work has led to the grand success," a cheerful Saikhom told IANS.
Relatives, friends and well-wishers had gathered at their small house in Nongpok Kakching village in Laimaning to witness Chanu script history in Tokyo, the proud father said.
"We are mostly vegetarian, but tonight we would prepare a non-vegetarian dinner to celebrate her success," he said.
"Our daughter opened the account for India. It's exciting. We wanted her to win gold, but this silver is like a gold medal for us. We are very happy and proud for Chanu," he added.
Chanu's village Nongpok Kakching is in a Covid-hit locality and hence the family did not allow too many people to enter their home, restricting the crowd to close relatives and immediate neighbours.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and a host of other leading politicians and sportspersons have congratulated the star lifter for her outstanding performance in Tokyo.
'My name is the guarantee of security in the country', PM Modi says in Karnataka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that his name is the guarantee of security in the country, adding it was his primary duty to protect the citizens of the nation.
9 held for gang rape of minors in Meghalaya
Nine persons were arrested by the police in connection with the rape of minor girls in the South West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, officials said on Sunday.
Indian Coast Guard apprehends Pakistani boat with huge consignment of narcotics
In a major success, the Indian Coast Guard, following an overnight aerial-maritime joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on Sunday apprehended a Pakistan boat in the Arabian Sea, west of Gujarat's Porbandar, and seized a large haul of narcotics.
Decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken on next day of Independence, PM Modi says in K'taka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken the very next day after the country achieved Independence in 1947.
Rahul slams BJD-BJP in Odisha rally, says both in collusion to benefit few corporates
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stepping up the party’s campaign in Odisha on Sunday lashed out at the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government and the opposition BJP while accusing them of having ‘married’ each other for personal gains and befooling the public.
PM Modi has already scored a century in first two phases of LS polls: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already scored a century of seats in the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls.
Govt extends shutdown of schools in Tripura till May 1, heat wave alert extends
In view of the intense heat wave, the Tripura government has announced an extension of shutdown of all government aided schools and privately managed schools till May 1 next.
Despite having a woman CM, females in West Bengal most unsafe: JP Nadda
BJP national president J. P. Nadda on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, saying that despite having a woman chief minister, females in the state are most unsafe.