Battling Depression, Mirabai Chanu Was At Her ‘Lowest Point’ In 2016; 10 Years Later, She Has Every Major Medal In Her Kitty

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu:  The esteemed Indian weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu, fell into a very deep phase of mental distress following her unsuccessful stint at the 2016 Rio Olympics to win a medal. She described it as the “lowest point” of her life. Battling depression so intense that it made her contemplate early retirement. “I had worked so hard to reach there, and I missed a medal. I kept wondering how I missed it. It was a low phase.” 

The setback is still painful, but her undeterred attitude pulled her out of the dark phase and eventually led to a Gold medal at the 2017 World Championships. With her never-give-up attitude, Chanu secured a historic silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, ending India's 21-year weightlifting medal drought. She continued dominating the international stage by securing back-to-back medals at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

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Mirabai Chanu Secured Silver Medal At 2026 Asian Games

At the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, continuing her medal stint at international events, Mirabai Chanu won a historic silver medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting category. She achieved a total combined lift of 198kg, including 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk. North Korea’s Ri Song-gum clinched the gold medal. 

This silver win by Chanu has ended India’s 28-year medal drought in the weightlifting category at the Asian Games. The last was won by Karnam Malleswari at the 1998 Bangkok Games. The achievement has now completed her international medal collection, adding to her Olympic, World Championship, and Commonwealth Games honours.  

Image Credit: (PTI)

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Chanu’s Journey From Pain To Tokyo Olympic Medal

Mirabai Chanu’s triumphant journey at the 2018 Commonwealth Games quickly turned into a gruelling test of resilience. She faced a major lower back injury after winning a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, which kept her out of action for nine months. She says, "I set a record there (Commonwealth Games Record), and things were looking good. But then I got injured. I lost all hope because I couldn't train. I felt I would never make a comeback; I would never lift again”

This painful nine-month hiatus derailed her sporting career, making her sit out major events like the 2018 Asian Games. 

However, through relentless hard work and rigorous training under elite coaching staff, Mirabai Chanu redeemed herself at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she clinched a historic silver medal. “This medal is my redemption. It has renewed my faith in my abilities”, she adds. 

Image Credit: (Reuters)

Chanu’s Background And Journey To World Stage

Born in a humble Meitei family in Nongpok Kakching near Imphal, Manipur, on August 8, 1994, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is the youngest of the six siblings. Her father, Saikhom Kriti Meitei,  worked in the Public Works Department, while her mother, Saikhom Tombi, contributed to the family income through a small shop/stall. Her extraordinary physical strength was noticed at the age of 12, when she could effortlessly carry massive bundles of firewood. Initially wanted to pursue archery, but she pivoted to weightlifting after stumbling at the Khuman Lampak Sports Academy. 

Vijay Sharma has been her principal coach and mentor for much of her senior career. Mirabai has described him as a coach, guide, and father figure. To honour her momentous sporting journey, she was awarded India's highest sporting honor, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, and Padma Shri, the nation's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2018.