2024-08-07 19:18:33
Paris: Mirabai opened India’s account by winning a medal on the very first day of the last Olympic Games and made a lot of headlines, but after that she was troubled by injuries due to which she could not prepare well for the Paris Olympics. After the Tokyo Olympics, her best performance was in the Commonwealth Games 2022 where she lifted 201 kg (88 kg and 113 kg). She won the silver medal by lifting 202 kg (87 kg and 115 kg) in Tokyo. Mirabai will challenge in her favorite 49 kg weight category and if she manages to repeat her best performance, then she can win silver or bronze medal. In this weight category, China’s current Olympic champion Hou Zhihui is again a strong contender for the gold medal. Mirabai has returned after recovering from a hip injury, but there are still speculations about her fitness. National coach Vijay Sharma, however, claimed that the player from Manipur is completely fit.
Sharma told PTI, “We know that Mirabai has to lift more than 200 kg. 202 kg will not be cut off for her this time but she should go up to 205-206 kg. We are ready for the challenge.” However, this is easier said than done as the weightlifter has struggled in the last few competitions.
While Mirabai, who turns 30 on Thursday, will keep an eye on the performance of her rivals, she will also have to overcome the challenge she faces. Despite the absence of North Korea’s Asian Games champion and world record holder Ri Song Gam, the competition in 49 kg is very tough and Mirabai, who has been preparing in Paris for the last one month, will have to avoid making any kind of mistake.