Mirabai Chanu wins Gold in EGAT Cup in Thailand

Guwahati: Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, Indian Weightlifter wins gold medal in the EGAT Cup in Thailand, her first event after recovering from a lower back injury that kept her away from taking part in major events in 2018.

Thanks to a 192kg effort in the 49kg category, Chanu clinched gold in the Olympic qualifying event, the point of the event which will count in the final rankings for the Tokyo 2020.

Chanu said, "This is my first international event after recovering from injury and I am feeling 100 percent fit but since this is my first event after the injury this is not the best result."

She further stated that this is just four kg less than my personal best of 196kg and I am quite satisfied and happy with the performance. She had won World Championships in 2017 with 194kg.

The 24 year old Chanu lifted 82lg in snatch and 110 kg in clean and jerk to finish on top of the podium after recovering from the injury which required extensive physiotherapy and kept her out of action for nine months.

Miyake Hiromi of Japan claimed silver with 183kg while Dika Toua of Papua New Guinea's Loa won the bronze with 179 kg. While Hiromi is the Rio Olympics bronze-medallist Dika Toua won the 53kg category silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Owing to the injury, Chanu had missed the world championships last year, a gold level Olympic qualifier which had also forced her out of the Asian Games held in Jakarta. She said that her next target is the Asian Championships in China followed by the world championships which is very crucial for her.

She was last seen in action at the Gold Coast CWG where she won gold with an effort of 196 kg.

She had then lifted 86kg in snatch and 110kg in clean and jerk, a Games record and also her personal best.

Chanu's first major breakthrough game at the Glasgow edition of the Commonwealth Games; she won the silver medal in the 48kg weight category.

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