Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has unfinished business, says weightlifting coach Vijay Sharma

New Delhi: Saikhom Mirabai Chanu still has a lot of weightlifting left in her, said veteran weightlifting coach Vijay Sharma. The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist, finished fourth at the Paris Olympics last month, missing a bronze medal by the barest of margins in women’s 49kg category. Speaking on the sidelines of the ASMITA women’s weightlifting league in Modinagar last week, Sharma, who has been working with Mirabai since 2014, said: “After Paris, we both discussed the future and decided that Mirabai must continue in competitive weightlifting.”

In a tight four-way competition at Paris, Mirabai was edged out by Thailand’s SurodchanaKhambao of Thailand for the bronze medal. Khambao lifted a total of 200 kgs (88 snatch + 112 kg clean and jerk) to Mirabai’s 199 (88 + 111) kgs. China’s HouZhihui (206 kgs) defended her Tokyo Olympics gold while reigning European champion MihaelaCambei of Romania (205 kgs) won the silver.

“I have been working with Mirabai since 2014 and she is a very disciplined athlete. Mirabai finished fourth in Paris and we both feel that there is some more work to do. We are looking at the next Commonwealth Games (in 2026) and the Asian Games(in 2026 Nagoya, Japan). An Asian Games medal is missing from her cabinet and we will give it all to secure that,” Sharma, who is developing a weightlifting facility in Modinagar, told SAI Media.

The Hangzhou Asian Games held in 2023 turned out to be a nightmare for Mirabai. Within sniffing distance of a maiden Asian Games medal, the 29-year-old Manipuri lifter injured her hip and was out for five months. She made a splendid recovery and made it to Paris Olympics as a medal hope.

“I did my best and was happy to finish where I did after coming back from the injury,” Mirabai said, adding that she was somewhat handicapped by her menstrual cycle. “It is part of the game in women’s sport,” said Sharma.

Saying that league like ASMITA have created a good space for women to pursue a sports career, the national coach said India’s weightlifting future depended how well women worked hard. “In India, women’s weightlifting has a bright future. You have seen how KarnamMaleshwari won an Olympic medal in 2000, then Mirabai Chanu in 2020…

“I have been in weightlifting for 25 years, I can emphatically say that only women can win us Olympic medals in 2028 and 2032. Men have to really work very hard to come up to Olympic expectations,” he added.