Mirabai Chanu scripted history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian woman in over two decades to clinch gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championship in Anaheim, USA.
The 23-year-old ended India's 22-year-long wait for a World Championship gold by creating a new world record of 194 kg―lifting 85 kg snatch and 109 kg in clean-and-jerk.
With the win, Chanu also became only the second Indian weightlifter ever to have won the gold medal in the World Championship. It was also India's first gold in the tournament.
Sydney Olympics bronze-medallist Karnam Malleswari is the only other lifter to have achieved that feat. She won the gold in the 1994 and 1995 edition in the 54-kg category.
Reflecting on the same, Malleswari told ANI, "Today is a big day for weightlifting. After 22 years, an Indian has snapped the record. I believe good days have come for weightlifting. The government will also now focus on weightlifting."
When asked if this victory will help in boosting the other wrestlers' confidence, she exclaimed, "Yes, definitely."
Malleswari further said that the victory would help in making Chanu mentally strong, while expressing that the latter would surely bring a medal in the upcoming Olympics.
"It was a really close fight and Mirabai Chanu performed really well. I was really hopeful that she would bag the medal in Olympics as well, but unfortunately it didn't happen. The victory will now help in making her mentally strong for the upcoming Olympics. She will definitely win the medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," she said.
After displaying a mediocre performance at the Rio Olympics, Chanu qualified for Commonwealth Games (2018) after winning a gold at the Commonwealth Senior (men and women) weightlifting championships held at Gold Coast, Australia.
En route to the victory, she also broke the Commonwealth record in snatch event by lifting 85-kg and bettered her own record by one kilogram.
Chanu's spectacular performance has not gone unnoticed as congratulatory messages poured in for her.
Taking to Twitter, former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee extended his warm wishes to Chanu, saying that she has made the country proud by clinching gold.
"Heartiest Congratulations to S. Mirabai Chanu on winning Gold Medal in the #WorldWeightliftingChampionship2017. We are proud of you," he wrote.
Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said, "Saikhom Mirabai Chanu wins #Gold in 2017 IWF Senior Men & Women #weightlifting championships in Anaheim, USA."
"In the 48 kg weight category, her total lift was 194 kg. That's 4 times her bodyweight.In sports, and in life, 'Will' is everything. Never, EVER give up. #KheloIndia," Rathore added in a series of tweet.
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that it was a fantastic day for the Indian sport as `superstar` Chanu has clinched a gold medal.
"What a fantastic day for #Indian sport! Huge congratulations to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu for winning the #Gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championship #Champion #Superstar," Phogat tweeted.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated the 23-year-old for ending India's 22-year-long wait for a World Championship gold.
"Congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for winning gold at the World Weightlifting in the US.The first Indian woman in over 20 years to win this," Banerjee tweeted.
"We proud of you , Manipur is the power house of Indian Sports.India's Mirabai Chanu wins gold at World Weightlifting Championships. Bravo! India shine #IWFWC2017. @PMOIndia @Ra_THORe @RajatSethi86," Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said.
Union Railways and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka BJP President and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa are among others who wished the weightlifter for achieving the feat.
