PATIALA: Back home after successfully defending her gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Mirabai Chanu said stories of the poor level of competition at the Games didn't make her complacent as the focus was on competing with herself during the final of the women's 49kg category.
The Tokyo silver medallist and the rest of the Indian weightlifting contingent, including fellow gold medallists Achinta Sheuli and Jeremy Lalrinnunga, arrived in Amritsar early on Saturday. They were later driven to the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala, where the contingent was accorded a warm welcome.
Mirabai aggregated 201kg (88kg + 113kg) to stamp her authority in the competition and achieve a Commonwealth Games record in the process.
While the diminutive Manipuri lifter was miles ahead to her nearest competitors -- silver medallist Marie Hanitra Roilya Ranaivosoa (172kg) of Mauritius and bronze medallist Canadian Hannah Kaminski (171 kg), she doesn't like the comparisons, and instead wants to better her own records in every competition.
"I have heard stories of the level of competition at CWG, but for an athlete that is of least importance, as the fight must be with yourself, to get better in each competition. Anyone can have a bad day on competition day, but as athletes we can't take things for granted, and will need to perform for a podium finish," Mirabai told a select group of reporters.
"Everyone expected me to get a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and I am happy to have stood by the expectations. After the Tokyo Olympics, it took some time to get back to full rhythm during the training and we were training for the Asian Games, and when it was postponed, the focus shifted to the CWG," she said while adding that the primary goal remains the centre of the podium in Paris 2024.
On being asked about the growth of youngsters like Jeremy and Achinta, Mirabai pointed out the support received from the ministry and the exposure trips that has helped the new lifters in the country.
"I am happy that the youngsters have won medals for the country. This shows that right support at the right time is very crucial for any athlete. The kind of exposure the athletes are getting in the past few years, you can't ask for more," she said.
Achinta, who clinched a gold medal with a combined lift of 313 kg in the men's 73 kg final, can't wait to return to his village in Bengal's Deulpur to meet his mother and brother.
"I haven't been to my village for close to three years, but I'm happy that my sacrifice was worth a gold. I can't wait to be with my mom and brother, they have been the support systems for me, and I'm sure they will be counting the hours of my return now," said an elated Achinta.
"One thing that I have missed so long is the mutton and rice cooked by mom, and what better opportunity to celebrate the medal win with a plate of home cooked food. Also I want to express my gratitude to all my brother (Alok), coaches, the Indian Army, without whose support, this wouldn't have been possible," Achinta added.
Punjab weightlifters Lovepreet Singh and Gurdeep Singh were also welcomed by loud cheers from the crowd that assembled at the NIS for a glance at the new heroes. Both Lovepreet and Gurdeep returned with a bronze medal each.
Lovepreet, the 24-year-old son of a tailor from Amritsar, lifted a personal best of 355 kg, including a new national record of 192 kg in clean and jerk, to finish third in the men's 109kg category. "I could not have been happier. It was a dream come true moment for me to land back in Amritsar with the Commonwealth Games medal," he said.
Khanna's Gurdeep Singh overcame a few nervy moments to lift 390kg (167kg+223kg) for a bronze-medal finish in the men's 109+kg category.
"I had a wrist injury so couldn't give my best in snatch otherwise I would have landed a silver," said the seven-time national champion.
"The kind of reception we have received is unbelievable, this will motivate us to get better in the next competitions. Personally for me, there were a few areas which I will work with our coaches as the preparation for the Asian Games will start very soon," said Gurdeep.
A total of 19 people including national coach Vijay Sharma arrived on Saturday while Maharashtra's Sanket Mahadev Sargar, the silver medallist in the men's 55kg category, stayed back in the UK for treatment of the UCL injury he suffered during his event.
