Even though India’s star weightlifter Mirabai Saikhom Chanu failed to win a medal at the World Championships, she can take pride in doing something that has never been done before.
Participating in the 49 kilograms category, she lifted a total of 201 kilograms (87 in snatch and 114 in clean and jerk) to become the first woman from the country to lift weight 4 times her own.
Not something associated with Indian weightlifters, this feat assured her a 4th place finish and further improved her chances of going to the Olympics.
The World Championships is a big platform and athletes’ performance there goes a long way in making their chances for Olympics better.