Ecstatic parents of Mirabai Chanu shed tears of joy

Nongpok Kakching (Manipur): Parents of weightlifter Mirabai Chanu from Manipur, who on Thursday bagged the country’s first gold medal in 2018 Commonwealth Games, were ecstatic and shed tears of joy on their daughter’s astounding success.

“I am crying not because I am feeling sad but I am overwhelmed by my daughter’s success. I was worried about her performance at the game, but now I can relax. Not only the people of the state are happy but the whole India is celebrating her win,” said Mirabai’s mother Saikom Tombi here.

An equally ecstatic father reiterated what Chanu’s mother had to say.

Tombi further said she was a proud mother on this day when her daughter has brought accolades to the nation.

Chanu made India proud as she bagged the gold medal in the women’s 48-kg weightlifting event at the Carrara Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia.

She even created a Commonwealth Games’ weightlifting record by lifting a total of 196 kg–picking 86 kg snatch and 110 kg in clean-and-jerk.

In her first attempt in the snatch, the 23-year-old lifted 80 kg before improving it with 84 kg and 86 kg lifts in her other two attempts.

Meanwhile, Chanu lifted 103 kg in her first attempt at clean-and-jerk, following it with a lift of 107 kg and then improving it in the third attempt by lifting 110 kg.

The previous best record at the Games was held by Augustine Nwaokolo of Nigeria, who lifted 175 kg in 2010 event.(ANI)