Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, the Indian weightlifter who made history by winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is all set to embark on an intensive training stint in Paris, France, as she gears up for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved Chanu’s proposal to train at the renowned facility in La Ferte-Milon. This decision was made to allow Chanu ample time to acclimatize to the weather conditions in Paris and intensify her preparations for the mega event.

Mirabai Chanu training in Paris

Mirabai Chanu’s journey to the top of the weightlifting world has been nothing short of inspirational. Her silver medal-winning performance in Tokyo catapulted her into the global spotlight, and now she is focused on honing her skills even further for the next Olympic challenge.

Accompanying Chanu to the Paris training camp will be two coaches and a physiotherapist. Their expenses, including airfare, visa fees, accommodation, meals, training costs, local transportation, medical insurance, and sauna charges, will all be covered under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) funding.

Chanu’s silver medal at Tokyo 2020 marked a historic moment for India with Mirabai being only the second Olympic medal earned by an Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari. Additionally, Mirabai became the second Indian woman, following PV Sindhu, to clinch an Olympic silver medal.

The former world champion hasn’t formally secured a quota for Paris 2024 yet but is in a good position to obtain one in the women’s 49kg category as she is ranked second in the Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR) for her division. The top 10 in the OQR list (maximum one per NOC) at the end of the qualification window on April 28 will secure Paris 2024 quotas for their respective countries.

Mirabai Chanu’s dedication and commitment to her sport are commendable. Despite the challenges and setbacks she has faced, including a hip injury she suffered at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, she has always bounced back with determination.

The decision to train in Paris is a strategic one, aimed at giving Chanu the best possible preparation for the Olympics. The training facility in La Ferte-Milon is world-class, and the opportunity to train there will undoubtedly benefit Chanu.

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