Away from the weightlifting stage, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is shy, reserved, and cuts an unimposing figure. But once she’s in tights and steps on the mark assigned to her, Chanu becomes a different person – an aggressive, towering competitor.
The Manipur native, who recently captured the attention of the entire nation by winning silver in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting category at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, informs us that it was her mother’s sage advice that set her on the path to greatness.
“Ab nikal gayi hai apne raste pe, toh peeche mud ke mat dekhna (now that you have chosen your path, do not look back) is what my mother, Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima, told me when I decided to take up the sport at the age of 12. So, despite having to overcome innumerable obstacles and failures to get to this point, I’ve never looked back,” she says.
Regardless of the circumstances and conditions she had to power through, Chanu was determined to make a name for herself. “I’ve had very humble beginnings. I didn’t have access to proper food or even transport to take to me to the centre where I trained when I first started out. I would hitch a ride with the sand-carrying truck drivers daily to reach the training venue, which was around 25 kms from my home,” she says. And, the 26-year-old is not one to forget a favor. As India celebrated her triumph, Chanu made it a point to celebrate the people who were involved in her journey to the podium. To express her gratitude, Chanu hosted an event for the truck drivers and their helpers and honored them for their investment in her life.
Denne historien er fra September 2021-utgaven av Grazia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2021-utgaven av Grazia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Cultural Renaissance
With a vision to bridge Jaipur's artistic legacy and the global contemporary art world, HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh and Noelle Kadar launch the Jaipur Centre for Art
LOVE, LOSS, AND LESSONS LEARNED
In conversation with Durjoy Datta, as he reflects on the emotional toll of writing intense stories, his journey as an author, and how his latest book revisits themes of love, second chances, and loss
All Eyes On THIS
Meet the newest standout brands on Grazia's beauty desk
Is Restocking Our Fridges A New Form Of Self-Care?
All the reasons why #restocking may not be as calming as it seems
SAVOUR THE TASTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
In the heart of our capital lies an extraordinary dining experience, unlike any other
ESCAPE THE ORDINARY
Luxury stays are now an essential part of our lives.
CHEFS ON THE LOOSE
Here's How Pop-Ups, Takeovers, and Workshops Are Heating Up the Indian Culinary Scene
NOT SO HIDDEN
What's making everyone wear acne patches, from transparent ones to colourful with bold designs, in public spaces?
RAISING THE BAR
With medi-facials on the rise, we're setting new benchmarks of our expectations from these treatments, and they're delivering
WHAT WORLD ARE WE LEAVING BEHIND FOR HER?
Despite stronger laws, crimes against women continue to rise in India. The International Day of the Girl Child is not one for celebration, but instead, one for igniting concern, awakening, and reformation