Mirabai Chanu’s magnificent Tokyo tale had its seeds sown a few years back. When her graph was witnessing a steady rise, following a comeback from a lower back injury that robbed several months in 2018, her performances in consecutive National championships in Visakhapatnam (2019) and Kolkata (2020) gave it a much-needed boost.
Visakhapatnam was particularly crucial, considering it was her second competition after recovering from injury. Within days of competing in the EGAT championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in February 2019, Mirabai was ready to test herself.
To everyone’s horror, the former World champion in 48 kg lost balance and landed on her hip during the first snatch for 83kg. Off the next, the barbell fell behind her, leaving the fans at the competition hall at the Railway Indoor Sports Enclave nervous and anxious.
Fear of the back injury returning to haunt her was…
