Meet Mirabai Chanu, India's first gold medalist in Commonwealth Games 2018

Born of August 8 1994, Indian female weightlifter Mirabai Chanu hails from the northeast state of Manipur.

The 23-year old weightlifter gave India a reason to smile when she clinched gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in the woman 48 kg category.

The Manipuri weightlifter broke record when she lifted 85kg in snatch and 109kg in clean and jerk which was one kilogram more than Thunya Sukracharoen’s performance in the woman’s 48kg category.

This was not the first time, Chanu won medal at the Commonwealth Games, she had earlier claimed silver medal at the 2014 Glasgow CWG in the woman’s 48kg category.

Apart from Commonwealth Games, Chanu has several medals in her name including Gold in 2016 South Asian Games, 2011 International Youth Championship and South Asian Junior Games

She was even felicitated by the Manipur CM N Biren Singh for her dedication to the sport and her excellence in the sport. She was also awarded with a cheque of Rs 20 lakh.

Mirabai is often seen as a successor to Karnam Malleshwari, who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.