Mirabai Chanu Opens Up About Challenges During Paris Olympics: 'Felt Weakness on Stage Due to Menstruation

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, experienced a disappointing result at the Paris Games, finishing fourth in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting final on Wednesday. After the event, the Manipuri lifter disclosed that she felt weak on stage due to it being the third day of her menstruation cycle.

Mirabai concluded the competition with a total lift of 199 kg, falling short of her Tokyo Olympics total of 202 kg, where she won silver. Her personal best stands at 205 kg, achieved at the 2020 Asian Championship.

"I am happy with the performance... I tried my best to give my 100 to give India a medal but. I managed this despite having very little time for recovery after my injury. I tried my best to get a medal for India but it was not in destiny. It was the third day of my period and in Tokyo it was my second day so that also affects your body a bit," Mirabai told reporters.

In the snatch round, Mirabai started with an 85kg lift on her first attempt but failed at 88kg on her second try. She had originally planned for 86kg on her second attempt before changing to 88kg shortly before lifting. On her final snatch attempt, she equaled her personal best of 88kg, which is also a national record. However, Thai lifter Surodchana Khambao matched her, resulting in both lifters being tied for third place at the end of the snatch round.

"Everything was going well for me in the warm-up. I gave my best in snatch (88kg). Clean and jerk was also going very well. I fumbled a bit in my first jerk... While walking on the stage, I was feeling a little weak because of the third day (of my period). It was going well; whatever the coach said, I did. It is just destiny that a medal slipped out of my hand," she added.

In the clean and jerk phase, Chanu initially failed to lift 111 kg, a weight that was higher than most competitors. She succeeded on her second attempt, moving up to second place alongside Hou Zhihui. However, Surodchana's 112 kg lift on her second attempt resulted in a total of 200 kg, pushing Mirabai out of the medal positions. The 29-year-old Mirabai's failed first attempt in clean and jerk proved costly, as she attempted 114 kg on her final lift but was unable to clear it, ending with a total of 199 kg.