Paris: Mirabai Chanu’s hopes of lifting the sagging spirits of the Indian contingent did not materialise as the Manipuri finished an agonising fourth in the 48kg weightlifting competition of the Paris Olympics here on Wednesday night.
Competing in her first event since the Asian Games in Hangzhou last October where she pulled out just before her lifts after being hit by a hip tendonitis injury, Chanu allayed concerns over her form and fitness by jumping to third spot with an 88kg lift in the snatch segment at the South Paris Arena.
Looking extremely comfortable and flashing her trademark smile before and after every lift, Chanu raised hopes of securing a second successive medal at the quadrennial bash following her silver at the Tokyo Games three years ago at the halfway point.
Chanu, who turned 30 on Thursday, however couldn’t give herself the perfect birthday gift as she failed to lift 114kg in her last attempt in the clean and jerk segment, her 111kg effort in the second leaving her in fourth place at 199kg (88kg + 111kg).
Despite the disappointment, Chanu was pleased with her performance saying if not for her menstrual troubles she could have lifted 114kg that would have secured her a medal. “I am happy with the performance because I managed this despite having very little time for recovery. I was managing 85kg in practice and I did it in the competition too. I was confident about clean and jerk also. It was my third day of the women's problem and that also affects you a bit.”
In a largely two-horse race between China’s Hou Zhihui and Romania’s Mihaela Valentina Cambei for the gold, Chanu’s only hope was for a bronze in the battle against Thailand’s Surodchana Khanbao. Chanu could have taken the bronze if she had cleared a lift of 113kg in her last attempt of clean and jerk but instead went for a tougher 114kg, taking the gamble in pursuit of silver as Zhihui still had a lift pending. Sadly, Chanu couldn’t and Surodchana won bronze with a total lift of 200kg (88kg + 112kg).
When asked why she opted for 114kg instead of 113kg, Chanu said it was coach Vijay Sharma’s decision and she just followed orders. “It was going good, whatever the coach said I did. It is just destiny that I did not get a medal, I did my best. Now it’s back to training and winning a medal in the next competition.”
It was disappointment not just for Chanu but for Cambei too as her brilliant performance was usurped by the Chinese dynamite Zhihui right at the very end. Dazzling in an all black outfit with shimmering make-up, the Romanian seemed on course for the gold when she lifted 112kg in the clean and jerk following a 93kg in the snatch.
The triple European champion raised her hands in celebration before going on to kiss the weight after her sixth consecutive successful lift. The crowd roared in delight at having witnessed a polished performance. She was in pole position and the gold medal was within her grasp as Zhihui now had to lift a new Olympic record weight of 117kg to retain her gold.
Zhihui, just 4’ 10’’ but with a giant aura around her, then showed why she’s the best in the world in her weight category in her last attempt. Looking cool, calm and composed, the 2018 world champion and two-time Asian Championships winner lifted 117kg in one smooth motion, sending the arena into raptures and leaving Cambei dumbfounded.