A Year Of Turbulence: Mirabai Chanu And Indian Weightlifting's Unfulfilled Dreams

Not many sports are inseparably linked with an individual, but Mirabai Chanu has been that one name in Indian weightlifting for several years now and 2024 was no different as she carried the weight of the nation's aspirations for Olympic glory once again. However, this time those dreams ended in heartbreak not just for her but also for the sport that has struggled to find a worthy successor to her. Chanu, who etched her name in history by ending India's 21-year Olympic medal drought in the sport with a silver at the Tokyo Games, embarked on a quest this year to achieve an extraordinary feat -- a second consecutive Olympic medal in weightlifting.

While no other Indian lifter came close to qualifying for the Paris Games, Chanu secured her spot with an underwhelming 184kg (81kg 103kg) at the Phuket World Cup, while making a remarkable return from a six-month injury layoff.

Her journey to Paris was fraught with challenges.

At 29, Chanu faced an uphill battle against an injury-ravaged body, sub-optimal preparation, and an intensely competitive field. Despite these odds, her indomitable spirit and resilience elevated expectations.

The year began on a difficult note, with Chanu still recovering from the debilitating hip injury sustained during the Asian Games.

She was locked in a race against time to regain her peak fitness ahead of the Paris Games.

Even as she stepped onto the stage in Paris, whispers persisted on whether she was fully fit to be in the medal hunt.

Though she was briefly in contention during her event, her performance ultimately fell short, leaving her to endure the anguish of a fourth-place finish -- a bitter pill for a nation that had pinned its hopes on her.

Post-Olympics, Chanu continues her rehabilitation,