Mirabai Chanu, who struggles with a again situation that impacts her snatch, has been attempting to breach the 90kg-mark since 2020.
| Photo Credit: AP
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will as soon as once more spearhead the Indian problem at the Asian Championships however she is unlikely to try the much-awaited 90kg snatch raise right here on Friday.
The two-time Commonwealth Games champion had received silver in her final outing at the World Championship in December with an general effort of 200kg (87kg +113kg).
It was removed from her private better of 207kg (88kg+119kg) and this time too, the previous world champion 49kg lifter will not be anticipated to check her limits.
“Mira only has to participate here. We will take it easy,” head coach Vijay Sharma instructed PTI.
“She will just participate and lift 85kg (snatch)…110kg (clean and jerk), totals that she can easily get,” Sharma added.
This means the await the coveted 90kg snatch raise might be longer. Chanu, who struggles with a again situation that impacts her snatch, has been attempting to breach the 90kg-mark since 2020.
But with the Olympics nonetheless a yr to go and the Asian Games scheduled in September, the Manipuri desires to peak at the best time.
The final time Chanu competed at the occasion in 2021, she made historical past by creating a brand new world file within the clear and jerk class, which nonetheless stands.
“We will create world records in the Olympic year. She was at her peak the last time she was here because Olympics were just around the corner. The Paris Olympics is next year. There is no point peaking now.
“We should take take into accout her age additionally, she will not be a child anymore, her physique must be taken care of extra now,” Sharma said of the 28-year-old.
The Indian will renew her rivalry with the Chinese duo of Jiang Huihua and Hou Zhihui, who have the highest entry weights of 205kg each. Zhihui is the reigning Olympic champion.
Chanu, on the other hand, has the second highest entry weight, along with two other lifters.
In the latest Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR), Chanu is in the second spot behind Huihua.
It will also be the first time Jeremy Lalrinnunga (67kg) and Achinta Sheuli (73kg) compete in an event since winning the gold at the Commonwealth Games last August.
While Jeremy had been nursing a thigh injury, Achinta had to withdraw from the World Championships in December at the last minute after he pulled his hamstring during the warm ups.
The duo will aim to collect the required ranking points to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Jeremy will continue to compete in non-Olympic 67kg weight class. The Aizawl lifter was supposed to bulk up to the 73kg Olympic weight class but has decided to wait till after the Asian Games in September.
“Till the Asian Games, he’ll stay on this (67kg) class, after that we are going to change it,” Sharma said.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bindyarani Devi has also moved back from 59kg to 55kg.
The 24-year-old had finished 25th at the Worlds in the 59kg Olympic weight class. However, an injury before the selection trials has forced her to move back to her original weight division.
Reigning national champions Shubham Todkar (61kg) and Narayana Ajith will be making their international debuts.
The Asian Championship is the qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where weightlifting events will be cut from 14 at Tokyo Games to 10.
However, it is an additional event and not a compulsory one.
Under the 2024 Olympic qualification rule, a lifter has to compulsorily compete in the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 World Cup.
Apart from the two, the lifter also has to participate in three of the events from among the 2022 World Championships, 2023 Continental Championships, 2023 Grand Prix 1, 2023 Grand Prix II and 2024 Continental Championships.
Indian Squad:
Mirabai Chanu (49kg), Bindyarani Devi (55kg), Shubham Todkar (61kg), Jeremy Lalrinnunga (67kg), Achinta Sheuli (73kg), Narayana Ajith (73kg).
