Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu comes from Nongpok Kakching village of Imphal East district in Manipur.
She hails from a family of eight members, most of whom are into agricultural work.
Born August 8, 1994, Mirabai Chanu took up weightlifting after being inspired by Kunjarani Devi’s story. She trained at the Sports Academy in Manipur.
Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal in the 48kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, a gold medal at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championship in Anaheim, a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the bronze medal at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent.
She also won a gold medal in the 49 kg category at Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, lifting a total of 201 kg in snatch and clean and jerk.
Mirabai Chanu holds the world record of 119kg in clean and jerk.
Chanu was awarded the sporting honour Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna by the Government of India in 2018.