Guwahati: After a gruelling six-month-long journey of rehabilitation owing to a hip injury, an Olympic medallist from India’s Manipur, Mirabai Chanu has made a resounding comeback to the competitive weightlifting arena.
Her remarkable performance at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup 2024 not only marked her return to the sport but also secured her a berth for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Chanu, the 29-year-old weightlifter from the Northeastern state of Manipur finished third in Group B of the women’s 49kg, and 11th overall, at the IWF World Cup 2024, to book her berth for the Paris Olympics. Her path to Paris was paved with dedication and perseverance as she adhered to the rigorous qualification criteria set by the IWF.
Chanu’s participation in at least five major events, including the World Championships and the 2024 World Cup, ensured her eligibility for the Olympic stage. Currently ranked second in the Olympic Qualification Rankings (OQR), Chanu’s return to form signals her readiness for the upcoming challenge.
She is one of the finest Indian weightlifters with an impressive haul of Olympic silver, three gold in the Commonwealth Games, and once a world champion. Her silver at Tokyo 2020 was only the second Olympic medal by an Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari.
Chanu’s return to the competitive arena signifies the end of a resilient six-month period. Her previous outing was at the Asian Games in September 2023, where she faced a challenging time after sustaining a hip injury. During her last clean and jerk attempt, she aimed to lift 117kg to surpass Thailand’s Thanyathon Sukcharoen for a bronze. Despite her determination, she fell short of completing the lift and had to be carried away from the podium by her coach Vijay Sharma.
Following her hip joint injury, Chanu sought the expertise of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, a renowned Mumbai-based orthopaedic surgeon. Despite his meticulous approach and successful treatment of cricketer MS Dhoni’s knee, Dr Pardiwala faced difficulty in identifying the exact cause of Chanu’s hip joint pain.
Consequently, Dr Pardiwala, affiliated with Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, advised Chanu to abstain from competition and undergo a period of rest, which would allow time to determine whether the pain would subside naturally or persist.
For Chanu, this raised concerns about her participation in another Olympics. Yet, rather than succumbing to a second bout of depression akin to her experience after failing to complete any clean-and-jerk lifts at her debut in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, she chose a different path forward.
Despite lingering doubts, she remained committed to her training regimen, focusing on upper body exercises to stay in shape and maintain a positive mindset. Throughout this challenging period, her mother, a constant source of inspiration, provided Chanu with unwavering support.
She travelled to Patiala to take care of Chanu from October to December 2023, offering her encouragement and spiritual strength. Together, they prayed to their local deity, ‘Ebudhou Khamlangba,’ and visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Additionally, Chanu maintained regular contacts with Dr Pardiwala, who monitored her progress through video calls and recommended suitable exercises every 15 to 20 days.
Ever since clinching silver at the Tokyo Olympics, injuries have been a persistent hurdle for Chanu. Although she celebrated a significant victory with gold at the Commonwealth Games, her journey has been marked by struggles to maintain consistency.
A standout moment came when she overcame a potentially serious injury, with her wrist giving way mid-lift, yet still managed to secure silver at the 2022 World Championships. However, Cahnu’s participation in major events in 2023 was limited, with a disappointing fifth-place finish at the Asian Championships and a distressing injury prematurely ending her campaign at the Asian Games.
During November and December 2023, Chanu explored free squats, an exercise engaging the hips and legs. To her delight, she experienced no discomfort while performing it. Encouraged by this outcome, she proceeded to test herself with light-weight squats, which yielded similar results. Subsequently, she updated her orthopaedic surgeon on her progress, who upon observing her improvement and recovery, cleared her for full-time training.
In January this year, Chanu embarked on a month-long rehabilitation programme at St. Louis in the US, under the guidance of her long-time coach Aaron Horschig. The investment in this endeavour paid off handsomely, as evidenced by her smooth lifts observed on Monday (April 1). This success has reignited Chanu’s confidence, reaffirming her belief in her ability to contend for a second consecutive Olympic Games.
Despite facing daunting odds, Chanu is undeterred. Returning from injury and with limited competition experience, she faces tough challenges in the 49kg category, particularly with weightlifters like China’s Hou Zhihui setting world records, and Thailand’s Khambao Surodchana and Sukcharoen, emerging as formidable contenders. Yet, her tenacity is unquestionable. She is determined to give her all, ensuring each of her six lifts counts towards her pursuit of success.
Chanu is set to depart for La Ferté-Milon in France, around a month ahead of her event, to commence preparations for what promises to be the most formidable competition of her career in Paris. Renowned for opening India’s medal tally in Tokyo, expectations remain high for her performance this time around.
In her hometown in Manipur’s Nongpok Kakching village in Imphal East, a shrine dedicated to Lord Ebudhou Khamlangba is nearing completion. Chanu’s roots run deep, where as a child, she assisted her mother in gathering firewood for a local roadside tea stall.