Mirabai Chanu, Saikhom
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Asked why the Indian weightlifters have failed to deliver in the last two decades, Malleswari said: “We’ve always had talented lifters in the country. But in my opinion, the combinations were not good. A good coach did not get a lifter to train or a talented lifter did not get the opportunity to train with a good coach. We are working to set things right and weightlifting will hopefully bring more medalsfor India soon.” | Asked why the Indian weightlifters have failed to deliver in the last two decades, Malleswari said: “We’ve always had talented lifters in the country. But in my opinion, the combinations were not good. A good coach did not get a lifter to train or a talented lifter did not get the opportunity to train with a good coach. We are working to set things right and weightlifting will hopefully bring more medalsfor India soon.” | ||
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| + | =Dope tests= | ||
| + | ==2014-17: 30 tests; Mirabai failed none== | ||
| + | [http://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2017%2F12%2F13&entity=Ar02905&sk=06BB061E&mode=text Sabi Hussain, Lifter Chanu Made To Undergo Four Dope Tests In A Month, December 13, 2017: ''The Times of India''] | ||
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| + | Newly-crowned world champion, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, finds herself in the crosshairs of International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada). The diminutive Manipuri lifter, who recently won the gold medal in California in 48kg category, has surprisingly been subjected to dope testing four times within a span of justone month. | ||
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| + | This is probably the first time that an Indian athlete has been targetted thus. Mirabai, who ended India’s 22-year drought at the Worlds with her gold, has been subjected to back-to-backdope testing by ‘Dope ControlOfficers’ (DCOs) of Nada ever sinceshe returned home from Anaheim, California. | ||
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| + | Mirabai’s blood and urine samples (out-ofcompetition) were first collected by DCOs the moment she reached the national camp in Patiala last Sunday. The very next day, on Monday, when Mirabai reachedKapurthala to participatein theInter-Railways competition, the same team of DCOs collected her urine sample during an in-competition testing, leaving the23-year-old perplexed as to what wrong she has done that Nada’s team was chasing her like this. | ||
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| + | These two sample collections came soon after Mirabai’s blood and urine samples were collected twice – on two separate occasions – by the IWF, first on November 12 in Las Vegas where the Indian team had stationeditself for a preparatory camp ahead of the World Championships, and then on November 28 when the reigning Commonwealthchampion won thehistoric goldfor thecountry. | ||
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| + | “As far as my memory goes, it has never happened in the history of Indian sports that an athlete has been subjected to back-to-back dope testing within 24 hours. It’s akin to putting an athlete under the cloud of suspicion. Within a month, she has been dope tested four times. Thisistotally unacceptable. | ||
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| + | “The rule book says an athlete can be dope tested by DCOs as many times as they want, but collecting sampleswithin a span of 24 hours? I have never come across anything like this. Mirabai’s morale and confidence is down due to these frequent dope testing,” Indian Weightlifting Federation secretary Sahdev Yadav told TOI. | ||
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| + | Yadav had another piece of shocking information to share. “In the last three years, Mirabai has been dope tested at least 30 times by the IWF and Nada under the suspicion that sheistaking performance enhancing drugs. We all know the truth that she has never failed a dope test.” | ||
Revision as of 14:10, 14 December 2017
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
2017
Gold at Weightlifting Championships
November 30, 2017: The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
Chanu became only the second Indian weightlifter to win gold at the World Weightlifting Championships
Karnam Malleswari did it back in 1995
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has lifted a new world record of 194kg - 85kg snatch and 109kg clean-and-jerk - to lift gold at the World Weightlifting Championships, becoming only the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to achieve that feat.
Thailand's Sukcharoen Thunya won the silver medal with a total lift of 193, while Segura Ana Iris bagged bronze with 182kg.
World Championships weightlifting competition
Girl From Manipur Emulates Malleswari In World Championship
Mirabai Chanu, who missedher elder sister Shaya’s wedding on November 22, gave a special gift to her sibling. The iron lady from Manipur ended India’s 22-year drought with a gold medal in World Championships weightlifting competition in Anaheim, California.
The 23-year-old had a total lift of 194kg (snatch 85kg and 109kg in clean and jerk) toemerge triumphant in the 48kg category and became only the second Indian after Karnam Malleswari to achieve thisfeat. Mirabai alsobettered her personal best by 2kg.
“This gold is the best wedding gift I could have given to my elder sister Shaya. I missed her wedding on November 22 in Manipur because of this World Championships. I had come to California on November 12 to get battle ready as I wanted to erase the bad memories of my disappointing Rio Olympics campaign (where Mirabai had missed all three attempts in clean and jerk).
“Everyone back home was upset with my decision to miss mysister’s wedding. I can understand their anger. But I had told my parents that I would return home victorious and gift gold to mylovely sister. I kept the promise which I had made to myself. My mother just called up to say we are proud of your achievement and thewhole village iswaiting for your felicitation.” Mirabai told TOI from Anaheim.
The Indian pipped favourite Sukcharoen Thunya of Thailand by 1kg toclinch gold. The Thai girl had a total of 193kg, while Colombian Segura Ana Iris bagged bronze with a total of 182kg.
It was Mirabai’s second title in quick succession after her gold at the Commonwealth Senior Weightlifting Championships in Australia in September, which ensured her a berth in the Commonwealth Games.
Mirabai emulated Malleswari, who won gold in 1994 and 1995. The Sydney Olympics bronze medallist, who is the now a government observer, was delighted with Mirabai's achievement.
The Andhra girl, who took Indian weightlifting to new heights in the90s, toldTOIthat shehad expected Mirabai to win a medal at theRioOlympics as well. “I am extremely delighted by her feat. She is a very talented lifter. In fact, we were confident she would get us a medal at Rio last year. Her gold now will motivate many more lifters to believe that they can also do well at international level,” said Malleswari.
Unfortunately for India, Mirabai was one of the two lifters who failed to complete her lift in Rio. “We realised that she became very nervous in Rio. But now this gold at the Worlds will do a world of good to her confidence,” Malleswari said and added that three girls — Mirabai, Sanjitha Chanu and Matsa Santhosi — are bright prospects for India.
“We have high hopes from these three girls. They are in the right age group (23 years) and will win more medals for India in future,” Malleswari said.
Asked why the Indian weightlifters have failed to deliver in the last two decades, Malleswari said: “We’ve always had talented lifters in the country. But in my opinion, the combinations were not good. A good coach did not get a lifter to train or a talented lifter did not get the opportunity to train with a good coach. We are working to set things right and weightlifting will hopefully bring more medalsfor India soon.”
Dope tests
2014-17: 30 tests; Mirabai failed none
Newly-crowned world champion, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, finds herself in the crosshairs of International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada). The diminutive Manipuri lifter, who recently won the gold medal in California in 48kg category, has surprisingly been subjected to dope testing four times within a span of justone month.
This is probably the first time that an Indian athlete has been targetted thus. Mirabai, who ended India’s 22-year drought at the Worlds with her gold, has been subjected to back-to-backdope testing by ‘Dope ControlOfficers’ (DCOs) of Nada ever sinceshe returned home from Anaheim, California.
Mirabai’s blood and urine samples (out-ofcompetition) were first collected by DCOs the moment she reached the national camp in Patiala last Sunday. The very next day, on Monday, when Mirabai reachedKapurthala to participatein theInter-Railways competition, the same team of DCOs collected her urine sample during an in-competition testing, leaving the23-year-old perplexed as to what wrong she has done that Nada’s team was chasing her like this.
These two sample collections came soon after Mirabai’s blood and urine samples were collected twice – on two separate occasions – by the IWF, first on November 12 in Las Vegas where the Indian team had stationeditself for a preparatory camp ahead of the World Championships, and then on November 28 when the reigning Commonwealthchampion won thehistoric goldfor thecountry.
“As far as my memory goes, it has never happened in the history of Indian sports that an athlete has been subjected to back-to-back dope testing within 24 hours. It’s akin to putting an athlete under the cloud of suspicion. Within a month, she has been dope tested four times. Thisistotally unacceptable.
“The rule book says an athlete can be dope tested by DCOs as many times as they want, but collecting sampleswithin a span of 24 hours? I have never come across anything like this. Mirabai’s morale and confidence is down due to these frequent dope testing,” Indian Weightlifting Federation secretary Sahdev Yadav told TOI.
Yadav had another piece of shocking information to share. “In the last three years, Mirabai has been dope tested at least 30 times by the IWF and Nada under the suspicion that sheistaking performance enhancing drugs. We all know the truth that she has never failed a dope test.”
