India's Saikhom Mirabai Chanu Bags Gold At World Weightlifting Championship; Creates History

2017 was a special year which was filled with pride for us Indians for multiple reasons. India started this year on a great note when the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched not 20 or 30, but a whopping 104 satellites in space in one go. Earlier this month Manushi Chhillar brought home the crown of Miss World, after 17 years. Now, another record has been made after 22 long years by our weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. © BCCL Mirabai Chanu has created history and inked her name in the golden pages of sports, by winning gold at the World Weightlifting Championships. Before Chanu, it was legendary weightlifter Karnam Malleswari who made the country proud in 1994 and 1995. IWF WWC 2017 Women's 48kg: ð¥ Chanu Mirabai ð®ð³ | 194 ð¥ Thunya Sukcharoen ð¹ð­ | 193 ð¥ Ana Segura ð¨ð´ | 182#2017iwfwwc http://pic.twitter.com/soupO70zyI — IWF (@iwfnet) 30 November 2017 This 23-year-old from Imphal lifted a new world record of 194 kg (85 kg snatch and 109 kg C&J i.e. clean and jerk). The Championship was held in Anaheim, USA and Chanu participating in the women's 48 kg category. This is a big achievement for Chanu given she lifted the weight that was nearly four times her size. © Twitter During the medal ceremony, she could be seen shedding tears of joy as she was presented with the gold. Chanu deserves all the respect and credit for her victory, since she really upped her game after her performance at last year's Rio Olympics. Last year, she failed to lift the weight in any of her three attempts in clean and jerk section. Chanu has proved, with her hard work, that nothing can stop you if you are strong willed and there's always a second chance that can turn the tables and make you unstoppable. © Reuters After Chanu's extraordinary triumph, the nation's excitement, joy and pride knew no bounds and people started flooding the social media with congratulatory wishes for her. Union Sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore wished her saying, “Saikhom Mirabai Chanu wins #Gold in 2017 IWF Senior Men & Women #weightlifting championships in Anaheim, USA. In the 48 k 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. 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 http://pic.twitter.com/sbs2crloVv — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) 30 November 2017 Former president Pranab Mukherjee also took to Twitter to congratulate Mirabai Chanu to for her achievement. Heartiest Congratulations to S. Mirabai Chanu on winning Gold Medal in the #WorldWeightliftingChampionship2017. We are proud of you. — Pranab Mukherjee (@CitiznMukherjee) 30 November 2017 President Ram Nath Kovind also congratulated her for this feat. Congratulations Mirabai Chanu for winning a gold medal in the World Weightlifting Championship. India is so proud of you. And congratulations Manipur for giving the country such a wonderful series of champion sportswomen! #PresidentKovind — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 30, 2017 Soon wishes from all corners of the country started pouring in. Congratulations to S. Mirabai Chanu from Railways on winning Gold Medal in the World Weightlifting Championship 2017. The entire Railways family is proud of her achievement. — Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) 30 November 2017 Amazing news! Mirabai Chanu has won world championship gold with a lift of 194kg, bettering her own national record in the process! So proud! As someone who's met and spoken to her, she deserves every bit of this and so much more! Congrats to national coach Vijay Sharma as well! http://pic.twitter.com/5BwvXdqr3D — Ravi Iyer (@Ravi_BarelyOL) 30 November 2017 Amazing start to the morning! India's Mirabai Chanu bags Gold at World Championship!A record broken after 22 years! congratulations star! http://pic.twitter.com/nsQOK1JH67 — Karnam Malleswari (@kmmalleswari) November 30, 2017 2017 has been the year of Indian women winning multiple accolades and making India proud on various global platforms - the Indian women's cricket team, Manushi Chhillar and now Mirabai Chanu. Congratulations! #womenpower — Sonia Parveen (@atika106) November 30, 2017 India's Mirabai Chanu wins gold medal at the #Weightlifting World Championships. She lifted 194kg (109 in clean and jerk, 85 in snatch) http://pic.twitter.com/eqDuzrU8D7 — Gaurav Pratim Dey (@gpdghy) November 30, 2017 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 READ: https://t.co/jgMcI0TZMD http://pic.twitter.com/P9gTjvv3nT — N Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) November 30, 2017 Congratulate Saikhom Mirabai Chanu for her Gold medal in 48 kg category at World Weightlifting Championships 2017 #Anaheim #USA SS http://pic.twitter.com/T6e1qLmorH — Suparno Satpathy (@SuparnoSatpathy) November 30, 2017 In September, Mirabai Chanu had qualified for Commonwealth Games (2018) after she won gold at the Commonwealth Senior (men and women) weightlifting championships held in Australia. India bagged the first spot with Chanu winning the gold medal, Thailand's Sukcharoen Thunya won the silver medal (193 kg) and Colombia Segura Ana Iris won the bronze medal (182 kg).