It is not often one gets to hear champion weightlifter Mirabhai Chanu talk at length about her journey in the quest for a medal at the Olympics.
On Thursday, at an online media interaction facilitated by the Sports Authority of India, the shy and usually reticent Mirabhai opened up, slowly and steadily. There was initial hesitancy from Mirabhai, the diminutive lifter, to talk about how it has been in the last 14-odd months since national lockdown was first imposed in March 2020.
Those were dark days for Indian sport. Athletes, coaches, officials and the entire Indian sporting system had little clue what to do. Athletes across several sporting disciplines had been confined to the SAI camps in Patiala, Bengaluru and a few more centres. To say the athletes were safe at that time, against an unknown and rampaging virus, is right.
None knew much, except the fact staying away from crowded places and in tight camps was better. At least, athletes and a special talent like Mirabhai was insulated from the rest of the world.
Training at that time was first restricted. Weightlifters, hockey players, track and field stars and the other elite athletes had to be cotton-wool wrapped. Mirabhai spoke of all this, how lockdown had left her badly guessing and how she had doubts about what lay in store ahead.
For someone who continues to remain haunted, though mildly, by the setback in the Rio Olympics, a comeback has been certain. Yet, she faced long spells of uncertainty. Her back pain was a mystery and her rehab in Mumbai was a long drawn one.
In an intense physical sport like weightlifting, to be able to comeback was a long journey. And she voiced it well on Thursday, using the right words about return to lifting, conquering the inner demons post lockdown, fighting rust and what it is to deal with illegitimate lifts.
For those who have followed her career, Mirabhai should have won a medal in Rio 2016 on form and fame. She explained the facts of what first Olympics pressure is and how even today she gains from the past in terms of experience. Rio haunted her for long and perhaps the latest medal at the Asian Championship, a bronze, has brought back that zing.
In Tashkent, too, recently, Mirabhai had a few erratic moments. Just like Rio. She has now learnt to deal with it, she said. And that is how she was able to yank a world record 119kg in clean and jerk, which had sports lovers in India applauding. It was a rich field and after the initial glitches, like an old spluttering carburettor car, Mirabhai did the world class effort.
She talked of rehearsals in practice while doing training. There is a rhythm in how a weightlifter approaches each lift. An illegitimate lift has to be forgotten and be ready for the next one in less than two minutes. Mirabhai talked about this as well and her comparisons were nuanced.
The Manipuri says training/rehab in the United States of America has been of benefit. She would like to return there again, though she says training “in India is not bad.” Given the uncertainty following the current situation in India, maybe someone like Mirabhai should take the two vaccine shots first, as per protocol.
“I want to get a medal for India. I’m ready to fight with athletes from all countries, including China. Since Rio, I have evolved a lot and I have worked very hard to be more perfect with my technique, especially in clean and jerk,” said Mirabai.
For the record, in the USA, she worked with physiotherapist. Aaron Horschig to address her lower back issues. “TOPS helped me in getting to work with him in USA. My training methods have changed and I have got better. He makes me do a lot of rehab exercises, not just for my shoulder and back issues. It helped me focus on various movements,” she said.
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