Ace weightlifter Mirabai Chanu made India proud after winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Saturday. She lifted a total of 201 kg in the women’s 49 kg category during the finals. Three hours after the win, Chanu hung out with her fans at the weightlifting arena at the National Exhibition Centre. The weightlifting champion obliged her fans with selfies and warm hugs. She also performed a split along with a six-year-old girl from Birmingham.
Speaking of which, photos of Mirabai Chanu and her fans are going viral on social media. A Twitter user, @jestalt, tweeted some of Chanu’s pictures from her fans interaction. Check out the post here:
Scenes from yest, where 3 hours after winning gold at #Birmingham2022, #MirabaiChanu was still at the #weightlifting arena, making fans happy. @mirabai_chanu is the perfect uninhibited mascot for the Friendly Games, as #CommonwealthGames are nicknamedhttps://t.co/Ei1VZEtBNM pic.twitter.com/2q3zgBG2fQ
— Amit Kamath (@jestalt) July 31, 2022
Netizens are overwhelmed with her humility and some of them called the weightlifter champion a “superstar”:
Thank you for sharing…#MirabaiChanu is such a sweetheart…her smile says it all !
— Vishal (विशाल) 🇮🇳 (@VishalSharma14) July 31, 2022
She is a role model for everyone on humility! Wish to meet her someday soon 🙏🏼
She a Superstar 💖💕💝💞💝
— SHAILESH DEVADIGA 🇮🇳 (@shailrupz1) July 31, 2022
This is pure gold, Amit 👏🏾💕
— smitha nair (@smitharnair) July 31, 2022
Glittering gold! https://t.co/X7OgP2l5tH
— name is blank (@feellovelaugh) July 31, 2022
She seems like an epitome of joy, a shining beacon of hope and love and all things bright and beautiful! #MirabaiChanu https://t.co/1yM2wuMFpH
— Moumanti Podder (@MoumantiP) July 31, 2022
She not only won the medal for India but heart of fans across the world. Keeping spirit of games alive and kicking.
-@chetanshahrare
What an ambassador for the sport!
— Sridhar Shelat (@SridharShelat) July 31, 2022
Humble, charming, confident, ruthless, media-friendly, intelligent and competitive https://t.co/EuXCnP3mCf
This is golden beyond the gold.@mirabai_chanu ..welldone.🙏🙏👏👏👏 https://t.co/8ZEs9mBh3A
— Subroto Gupta (@TheWIPMan) July 31, 2022
Champions are what champions do. https://t.co/h0mgrBdNhQ
— Zaphod B (@vagabong42) July 31, 2022
This is more than the gold itself… https://t.co/mJhXE61bYg
— Balaji Jagannathan (@balajij299) July 31, 2022
Gem of a person she is. Full of life❤️❤️ https://t.co/nGXyy8vHmZ
— Sejal Awasty (@sejal_modi) July 31, 2022
How beautiful is this? 🥹🥰 Absolute hero! 🤩 https://t.co/KOC0LcPNJO
— Ria 🏳️🌈 (@RiaRaichaudhuri) July 31, 2022
mirabai’s smile can light up a city! lovely from @jestalt https://t.co/1A8iEJ7mCH
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) July 31, 2022
Uffff….athletes like her and Neeraj are such role models of humility
— Anubhav (@anubhavdps) July 31, 2022
Hallmark of a champion, such humility!!! https://t.co/6Mzai5ZU6U
— Basra! KK Forever! (@basrasahab) July 31, 2022
According to News9 Live, here’s what gold medallist Mirabai Chanu said about her fans:
Kya karu? Main naa nahi bol sakti. (What to do? I just cannot say no). If fans approach me with so much love, I can never say no. For me, spectators are very important. It’s because of them that this medal is so valuable. They have a different look on their face when they see me. And I like doing that. So, for me that’s important. I feel really happy that people come to see me.
-Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu, who hails from Manipur, had previously won silver in the women’s 48 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Chanu also won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. She won gold at the World Weightlifting Championships in 2017.
Mirabai Chanu is truly a role model.