New Delhi: India’s first medal winner at the Tokyo Olympics Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and her coach Vijay Sharma returned to the country yesterday (26th July 2021) evening and were given a hero’s welcome and were felicitated by Union Sports Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur at his residence. Union Minister for Law and Justice Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North-Eastern region Shri Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Minister for AYUSH, Sh Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Nisith Pramanik were also present.

This was the first time Chanu who won a silver medal in women’s 49 kg weightlifting had come to India, after flying out to the USA on May 1 for a stint with renowned strength and conditioning coach Dr Aaron Horschig. The government had swiftly arranged for Chanu to fly out at short notice, with a travel ban to the USA for people coming from India set to be imposed within a few days due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

“Thankful to the Government for a Dream Come True”

An overjoyed Chanu said, “This is a dream come true for me. I have been training for this moment for years and I am glad that it all came right for me at the biggest stage of them all, the Olympic Games.” Chanu also thanked the government for extending timely support over the years and particularly the two trips to the USA, last year and the most recent one. “The trip to the USA last year to address issues related to my shoulder was instrumental in my journey to this medal. I am grateful for all the support extended by the government towards me, without which this journey to an Olympic medal would not have been possible. I would also like to say that the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) had boosted my career and medal prospects.”