Mirabai Chanu (India), who challenged the Olympic medal while working as a train ticket inspector, presented the first medal of this competition to India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In the women's 49kg class A group event at the Tokyo Olympics on the 24th, Chanu recorded an increase of 87kg, a jerk of 115kg, and a total of 202kg, and competed in China's Houzhui (impression 94kg, jerk 116kg, total 210kg). Then he won the silver medal.
This is the first time an Indian woman has won a silver medal in women's weightlifting at the Olympics.
Chanu, who gave the first medal to the Indian team participating in the Tokyo Olympics, quickly rose to prominence as an Indian sports hero.
Born in a rural village 44km away from Imphal, Manipur, India, Chanu discovered his 'talent' while moving firewood when he was young. At the age of 20, he won a silver medal in the women's 48kg weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games in 2004. She has grown into a promising player in Indian women's weightlifting.
Chanu first tried on the Olympic stage at the 2016 Rio Games, but failed to finish in 6th place.
However, Chanu did not lose his dream of becoming an Olympic medalist. He worked as a ticket inspector at a train station and devoted himself to sports, eventually winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and becoming an Indian sports hero.
Upon hearing the news of Chanu's silver medal, the government of Manipur, his hometown, promised a prize of 10 million rupees (about 155 million won) and even a high-level police officer position so that he could focus on the campaign until the next Olympics.
Other ministries also agreed to give a reward of 300,000 rupees (about 46.5 million won).
The Minister of Railways also announced a promotion plan along with a reward of 20 million rupees (about 310 million won) to Chanu, saying he was the sergeant of 'Indian Railway'.
(Photo = Getty Images Korea)