Entertainment celebrities from across India on Saturday took to social media to congratulate India’s daughter, Mirabai Chanu, after the 26-year-old from Manipur won a silver medal on the first day of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. From Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman to South Indian film legend Mohanlal, India’s entertainment celebrities heaped praises on Mirabai for ending the country’s 21-year wait for a medal in weightlifting.
AR Rahman wrote on Twitter, “Congratulations @mirabai_chanu.” Mohanlal shared a photo of Mirabai to write, “And here comes India with our very first medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020! Proud of @mirabai_chanu who secured the silver medal for Weightlifting. Cheers to this moment of triumph! Cheer4India #Tokyo2020.”
Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma tweeted, “Proud of you @mirabai_chanu congratulations.”
Congratulations ???? @mirabai_chanu???? ???????? https://t.co/RWDcYBGTRK
— A.R.Rahman #99Songs ???? (@arrahman) July 24, 2021
And here comes India with our very first medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020! Proud of @mirabai_chanu who secured the silver medal for Weightlifting. Cheers to this moment of triumph! ????????#Cheer4India #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/hCc5L7xFyC
— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) July 24, 2021
Mirabai on Saturday lifted a total of 202 kgs, 87 kgs followed by 115 kgs, but failed to lift 117 kgs to beat China’s Hou Zhihui, who had lifted 116 kgs in her final effort. Her medal victory on the first day of the games assumes significance given that she had failed to carry out a single successful lift at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Reacting to her win, Mirabai said, “Its really a dream come true for me. I would like to dedicate this medal to my country and would like to thank the billion prayers of all Indians which were with me during this journey.”
Her medal victory is bound to motivate other members of the Indian contingent to emulate Mirabai’s success and bring laurels for the country. Indians are desperately hoping for a considerable medal haul this year.