The world knows Virat Kohli. But, do you know about that IPS rank police officer, who is a big hope for India to win a gold medal in Paris Olympics? She is Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu posted as Additional SP in Manipur Police. Mirabai Chanu got this job after creating history by winning the silver medal in Tokyo Olympics. Now Paris Olympics is ahead, where Mirabai is India's only hope in the sport of weightlifting. For the 30-year-old Indian weightlifter, the task of converting the silver won in Tokyo into gold will be difficult in Paris, but not impossible. As Virat Kohli also said that Mirabai Chanu knows the skill of converting hopes into victory.

Mirabai Chanu will be a part of her third Olympics in Paris. She was disappointed in her first Olympics in Rio 2016, due to which she was so hurt that she had even decided to quit the sport. But then she worked up the courage and prepared herself for her second Olympics in Tokyo 2020. For this, she had to sacrifice many things from spicy food to her sister's wedding. Her firm resolve won in Tokyo. With the success here, Mirabai Chanu became the second weightlifter of India after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal.

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Mirabai changed her career after watching a video

However, Mirabai Chanu would not have become a successful weightlifter in the world today if she had not seen the video clip of India's first female weightlifter Kunjarani Devi. This happened when Mirabai was only 12 years old. Born in an ordinary family in Nongpok Kakching, a village in Imphal, Chanu, the youngest of six siblings, initially wanted to become an archer. With the intention of getting training in this sport, she also reached the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Imphal. But, she did not find anyone there to train her in this sport. Disappointed by this, Mirabai saw Kunjarani Devi's video clip a few days later and from that day onwards decided to become a weightlifter. She immediately joined the academy and started her training.

Sometimes lift from truck and sometimes from bicycle, Mirabai's struggle

Now it was decided what to do, but there were still obstacles in the way. And that was the distance of Mirabai's academy from her home, which was 20 kilometers. However, this distance from home to coaching could not break Mirabai's firm resolve and high spirits. She would reach the academy sometimes by taking a lift in a truck and sometimes on a bicycle.

12 year old Mirabai did not have the necessary equipment to lift, so she used to practice by lifting bundles of bamboo or other wood. Once her brother, who was 4 years older than her, was trying to lift a bundle of firewood, but it was so heavy that she was unable to lift it. In such a situation, Mirabai tried to lift it and she was successful. That day Mirabai realized her true power.

Mirabai Chanu's career full of achievements

Born on 8 August 1994, Mirabai Chanu first came into the limelight at the international level when she won the silver medal in the 48 kg weight category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. After this, the failure of the Rio Olympics definitely hurt her intentions. But, after becoming the world champion in 2017 and the Commonwealth champion in 2018, her spirits were high for the Tokyo Olympics. After winning silver for India in Tokyo, Mirabai again became the Commonwealth champion in 2022. However, in the 2022 World Championship, she had to settle for silver instead of gold.

win 7.5 lakh with virat kohli

Amidst these big achievements of her career, Mirabai Chanu also became India's Khel Ratna. In the year 2018, she was jointly awarded the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna award with Virat Kohli. Under this biggest sports award of India, she also received Rs 7.5 lakh as prize money along with Virat Kohli. In the year 2018 itself, Mirabai Chanu was also awarded the Padma Shri.

Intention to perform 100 percent, medal will be sure!

Mirabai Chanu lifted 202 KG in the women's 49 KG category to win the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics. In this, she lifted 87 kg in snatch and 115 kg in clean and jerk. If Mirabai Chanu wants to paint the silver Olympic medal in gold, then she will have to increase the weight in Paris. In clean and jerk, Mirabai has lifted 119 kg in the 2021 Asian Championships, which is a world record. Apart from this, she has also lifted more weight in snatch than the weight she lifted in Tokyo.

Before the Paris Olympics, the injury has become a hindrance in Mirabai's preparations, but she has not let it become her weakness. 6 months after recovering from the injury, Mirabai has booked a ticket to the Paris Olympics by lifting 184 kg in the World Cup held in Thailand in March this year. And as she has said, if she gives her 100 percent in Paris, then another Olympic medal is sure for India.