I’m the same girl, life hasn’t changed for me: Mirabai Chanu

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

Innocence is an obvious character trait of India’s newest Olympics medallist, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. After walking into her abode for the night in Noida with a posse of police officers — who trailed her car in two escort vehicles — last night, Chanu declared: ‘I am the same Mirabai.’

Also read: Mirabai Chanu’s coach Inspector Sandeep Kumar gets a rousing reception in Phagwara

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The weightlifter, who opened India’s medal count in Tokyo, added that the best thing that happened to her after the medal was a direct call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a freewheeling chat with The Tribune, Chanu talks about loving the limelight, her return to training and future plans. Excerpts:

It has been a hectic day for you from the moment you landed in Delhi. Crowds, fans heckling to take a selfie with you. You got an escort car. You have become a big star. How do you see this stardom?

I love it. I have waited and dreamt of these things for a number of years but life for me has not changed at all. I am the same girl. This medal was not only my dream but it was also the dream of our (weightlifting) federation and we have realised it together and I am so happy that we achieved this in Tokyo.

You will be in Manipur for a few days. Have you planned anything special for your stay there?

I have been given only 10 days off (laughs). I will come back and start training again. We have Commonwealth Championships in October and then we have to start preparation for the next events.

I will return on August 10. Sir (coach Vijay Sharma) said I have to return on that date so I will have to come back and that is final. In the meantime, I will stay with family. I have missed them so much. I want to enjoy my time with them and I look forward to being with them.

There was a picture of you and Mary Kom hugging in Tokyo. What happened there?

I bumped into her in the shopping complex of the Games Village. Suddenly she came out of nowhere and hugged me tight. She then said: ‘You won the first medal for India here. You made Indian and Manipur proud.’ She was so happy for me. We hugged each other for a long time. It was lovely gesture from her.

Mirabai, you were helped by other coaches when you started your career. How important were they?

I will be indebted for life for what both Anita Chanu and Brojen Singh did for me. They taught me the sport. Unhone haath pakad ke sikhaya hai. They are the reason I could make it to the national camp. Once there, Vijay sir started to train me. I stayed with Vijay sir and my performance started to get better.

Will you do something for them as well so that they could send many more Mirabais to the main team?

I will do everything for them and others, especially for those girls who may want to take up weightlifting as a sport because of my medal. It will be lovely to see more girls from Manipur or any part of India get into my sport. Whoever needs help and approaches me will get my help. We will plan for it for sure.

What was the biggest surprise that you got after winning the medal?

It was a direct call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. After the medal I was sent to give my sample (for dope control)… Once I had returned Vijay sir handed his phone to me. It was the PM! You do not expect a direct call from your PM. It never happens. He said: ‘Mira aapne kamal kar diya. Apne pehle din silver jeet ke humare desh ka naam upar kar diya.’ I was so happy. For a second I had doubts whether I was talking to him! I was in shock. It was a big moment for me. I have met him in the past, but it has never happened that he has directly called me, so it is very special to me.

What are your plans going forward?

This medal has shown me the way to go forward in my sport. It has given me the confidence that will help me to better this performance in the coming tournaments. Now, I will work harder in my training and will try to better the colour of the medal in Paris Olympics.