New Delhi [India], August 26 (ANI): As the thirst for a maiden Asian Games medal will get stronger on daily basis, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is leaving no stone unturned to win the one world medal that has eluded the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist. To keep injury-free forward of the September 19-October 4 Games in Aichi-Nagoya stays Mirabai’s topmost precedence.
Two males who’ve been a part of Mirabai’s stellar journey have been her coach Vijay Sharma and American power and conditioning coach Dr Aaron Horschig. The affiliation with Dr Horschig began in November 2020 and continues until immediately, based on a launch.
‘We have a video name each Thursday with him, and we talk about all the pieces about coaching, restoration and the following steps. Everything is reviewed to the best element, and since Dr Horschig was a weightlifter himself, he is aware of each muscle within the physique. This fixed evaluation has stored me in form,’ Mirabai informed SAI Media.
The quest for the Asian Games has been relentless. Mirabai and staff didn’t waste a day after profitable the gold medal on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this time. The CWG organisers had dismantled the weightlifting corridor, however Mirabai, Sharma and physio Rohit Chhabria discovered a gymnasium and paid for a coaching session in Glasgow.
‘I used to be straight again to coaching at Modinagar. In truth, I didn’t go house (in Manipur), and I’ve set myself a problem ‘no going house until I win a medal on the Asian Games,” stated Mirabai.
Injuries have jinxed Mirabai’s quest for an Asian Games medal. At the final Asian Games in Hangzhou, Mirabai completed fourth within the 49 kg class after a hip and thigh harm ruined her marketing campaign within the snatch part itself. In the 2018 version in Jakarta, Mirabai was dominated out with a extreme again harm.
Despite the hat-trick of Commonwealth Games golds, Mirabai isn’t attaching nice significance to the extent of competitors in Glasgow. ‘To be trustworthy, the competitors within the Commonwealth Games was not powerful for me. I didn’t should put in lots of effort at Glasgow. The actual check lies forward,’ Mirabai informed SAI Media.
In Glasgow, Mirabai lifted a complete of 190kg (snatch – 85kg; clear and jerk – 105kg) to clinch the ladies’s 48kg gold medal, setting new Commonwealth Games data within the snatch, clear and jerk and total whole. Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong claimed the silver medal with a complete of 168kg (75kg + 93kg), whereas Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry took bronze with 167kg (77kg + 90kg).
Mirabai’s private finest is 205 kgs (89 + 116 kgs), set on the 2021 Asian Championships and extra lately at nationwide championships in February 2026. ‘I need to see how far I can go in Japan. The Asian Games have been the hardest for me. You will in all probability see the ‘Olympics’ on the Asian Games this time as a result of the strongest lifters in our weight class are from Asia.’
Mirabai says she is anticipating the hardest competitors from Chinese, North Korean, Japanese and Thai lifters. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, Mirabai was relegated to the fourth spot by Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao by only one kilo. The Thai woman had lifted a complete of 200 kg.
‘We have been cautious with health, and to date, I’ve felt good with my physique,’ stated the 32-year-old, including that the Asian Games stays her solely goal. ‘I’ll see the way it goes on the Asian Games. In Los Angeles, the burden class will likely be 53 kg, and I might want to bulk up. That shouldn’t be an issue, however all the pieces will rely on the efficiency at Nagoya, after which we will plan with the Olympic qualifiers in December. I reckon all those that will play in Japan will goal LA 2028, however for now it is mission Asian Games for me,’ stated Mirabai.
Mirabai will lead a five-member Indian weightlifting contingent on the Asian Games. The three-time Olympian will likely be one of many 4 ladies within the squad. The weightlifting competitors will likely be held from September 22 to twenty-eight on the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium in Aichi, Nagoya. (ANI)