Chanu eyes World glory

India’s Mirabai Chanu during her silver medal-winning effort at the Tokyo Olympics in July. Pic/PTI

After the high of the Tokyo Games, India's Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has turned her focus on winning a second World Championship title and is ironing out the chinks in her armour ahead of the event.

Chanu had clinched the gold at the 2017 World Championship, but since then a medal at the event has eluded her. She was unable to defend her title a year later after she decided to give the tournament a miss due to a back issue and in 2019, she missed the bronze by a whisker. The event was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year it has been scheduled from December 7 to 17 in Tashkent and Chanu is training hard. "I am working on my shortcomings and weakness in the technique in training. I will be trying my best to become a World Champion for a second time," said Chanu.

The Indian holds the world record in the clean and jerk event in the 49kg category after she successfully heaved 119kg in the Asian Championship last year. However, she has struggled to stay at par with her Chinese opponents in the snatch section.

Focus on snatch

Chanu, 27, said that she has struggled in the snatch event due to an imbalance that has been affecting her right shoulder and back. "I have a world record in clean and jerk so I will focus on snatch at the Worlds Championship. I have to increase my weight in the snatch section," she said.
Chanu had also consulted Dr Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter-turned-physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach in the US and that helped her immensely in winning the silver medal at the Tokyo Games.

Persisting pain

However, Chanu still feels the pain while lifting heavy weights. "The issue is sorted, but sometimes, I still get pain in the right shoulder and back because of the imbalance. But there is a lot of improvement from before. Right now there is no plan to go to the US because of World Championship in December. After this, we will probably plan a visit. I'm consulting him online now."

The diminutive Manipuri, whose personal best is 205kg, said she is working hard to try and catch up with her rivals. Olympic gold medallist Hou Zhihui of China currently holds the world record (total weight) at 213kg.

"I have to go above 210kg anyhow. 213kg is the world record right now, so I'm working to touch it. My aim is to reach 213-214kg till the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games."

Weightlifting could lose its place at the 2024 Paris Olympics because of long-term doping problems and governance issues. Asked how it could impact the sport in the country, Chanu said it will not be a good thing.

"Every athlete dreams of participating in the Olympics. So if it [cancellation] happens we can't really do anything. Maybe, people will stop taking up the sport, I don't know. The Olympics are huge," she added.

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