Tokyo: Mirabai Chanu clinched a silver medal in the weightlifting in the 49kg category on Saturday at Olympic Games in Tokyo. Indian woman weightlifter Mirabai Chanu open country’s account in the medal tally by clinching a Silver medal.

She lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. China’s Hou Zhihui clinched Gold Medal with an effort of 210 kg (94kg+116kg) and Indonesia’s Windy Cantika Aisah get bronze medal with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg).

Silver Medal for for #TeamIndia Saikhom Mirabai Chanu Wins India's First Medal, Settles For Silver In #Weightlifting #Tokyo2020 #Olympics #MirabaiChanu pic.twitter.com/rh4iATzz6t

— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) July 24, 2021

Considered her weakness in the run up to the marquee event, Chanu attempted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. The Manipuri took her time and cleanly heaved the barbell. In her next attempt, she lifted 87kg and raised the weight to 89kg, which was one kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year.

The smile behind that mask!

Weightlifter @mirabai_chanu brings 🇮🇳 her FIRST medal as she bags SILVER in the 49kg category at #Tokyo2020 #Cheer4India @IndiaSports @ianuragthakur @ddsportschannel pic.twitter.com/WzKNRLNqwh

— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 24, 2021

However, she was unable to better her personal best and settled for 87kg in the snatch event only behind leader Zhihui, who created a new Olympic record with an effort of 94kg.The Chinese lifter also holds the world mark (96kg) in the category. In the clean jerk, Chanu, the world record holder in the section, lifted 110kg and 115kg in the first two attempts. However, she was unable to raise 117kg in her final attempt but it was enough to fetch her medal and open India’s account.