Determined Mirabai Chanu seeks to break China’s dominance, aims gold at Tokyo Olympics | Other Sports News

New Delhi: Nothing lower than a gold will do for India’s champion weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu, within the Tokyo Olympics as she seeks to break China’s dominance and aura of invincibility within the sport. “I don’t want a silver in the Olympics, I want gold,” declared the world record-breaking lifter throughout an interview with PTI.

She is decided to do higher than conventional powerhouse China and declare the highest spot at the Tokyo Games.  With North Korea withdrawing from the Olympics, it’s doubtless to be a two-way race between Chanu and the lifter representing China within the 49kg class.

“I have to go beyond the Chinese lifters. They think that no one can lift more than them but I want to break that. I can fight with them,” Chanu mentioned.  

China at the moment has two lifters who’re forward of Chanu within the Tokyo Games qualifying rankings however solely one among them can take part as per the foundations. Both have lifted extra weight than the Indian’s private greatest (205kg) with Hou Zhihui setting a brand new world report in snatch and complete weight with an effort of 213kg (96g+117kg) at the continued Asian Championships. 

Returning to worldwide motion after 16 months, the 2017 world champion lifted 86kg in snatch and a world report 119kg in clear and jerk for a complete of 205kg to pocket the bronze medal at the Asian Championship. 

In her first worldwide competitors in additional than a 12 months, @mirabai_chanu makes a brand new nationwide report of 205 kgs at the Asian Championships and gained bronze medal. Her good clear and jerk elevate of 119 kg is a brand new world report!
Target Olympic Podium Mirabai! pic.twitter.com/ohOSOWZ94P

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 18, 2021

A delighted Chanu revealed that she gained the assumption that she might create a world mark at the 2019 World Championship when she had cleaned 118kg, that’s shifting the barbell from the ground to a racked place throughout the shoulders however failing to elevate it to a stationary place above her head (jerk). 

Jiang Huihua of China had efficiently heaved the identical weight to set the world report then.

“I am very happy. We had decided in the last World Championship only that if we do 118kg-119kg then it’s a world record. I had cleaned 118kg but missed out on the jerk. So, then I gained the confidence that I can lift more than them. We worked on it. In snatch, I feel a little uncomfortable because of my shoulder injury sometimes. My confidence is a bit low but in clean and jerk I was up for the challenge,” Chanu mentioned.

While her 119kg effort fetched her a gold medal in clear and jerk, Chanu faltered twice in snatch as she tried 85kg. A 3rd failed try would have ended her championship.

The 26-year-old is aware of she has to enhance her snatch to compete with China. Zhihui’s 96kg at the continental occasion was a brand new world report, whereas Chanu’s private greatest is 88kg.  

“I have to improve snatch to be at par with the Chinese. The difference in snatch is more. I knew I couldn’t cover that much but I had prepared for 91kg-92kg (for the Asian Championship) but that didn’t pan out as expected. My back got a bit loose. I never thought I’d not be able to lift (85kg). But then sir (coach Vijay Sharma) added one kilogram and I was only thinking ‘whatever happens I have to lift this’.”

The diminutive Manipuri conceded that this previous 12 months, when the weightlifting schedule went haywire due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a complicated interval stuffed with nervousness.

“I lost out on some confidence because of this one-year break as we didn’t compete anywhere. Doubts crept in, you keep thinking ‘what will happen, how will I perform’, it was a confusing time.”

But there was additionally a silver lining. Chanu, who had been confined to the National Institute of Sport (NIS) in Patiala because the first lockdown started in March final 12 months, flew to the US to get remedy for her decrease again ache. Working with Dr. Aaron Horschig, a former weightlifter turned bodily therapist and power and conditioning coach, has immensely benefited her.

“The only good thing was that I went to USA and trained that helped me a lot. It was a change for me, mentally as well. There I was just made to do exercises of the back and right shoulder. That has helped me a lot, it improved my squat and snatch.”