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MIRABAI Chanu Saikhom (IND) has been selected for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme

Indian weightlifting sensation SAIKHOM Mirabai Chanu has been chosen as one of the two TOPs weightlifters for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is claimed to be one of the serious Medal hopes for India.

The Target Olympic Podium Scheme or the TOPs is a flagship program introduced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India which provides maximum assistance to the athletes who are medal prospects at the Olympic Games, like physical trainers, sports psychologists, mental trainers and physiotherapists.

SAIKHOM Mirabai Chanu who used to compete in the women’s 48kg bodyweight category, picked up the first Gold Medal for India at the 2018 Commonwealth Games by lifting 196kg (86kg and 110kg), setting a new Record for the Games. She also earned the World Champion title in 2017 in Anaheim, USA.

After missing the 2018 Asian Games due to a back injury that occurred in the last minute, Mirabai is now fully focused on the preparations of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. She is now training at the SAI Centre, the same place where Olympic medallist MALLESWARI Karnam trained before retiring at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Mirabai seems to be very confident with her preparations: “We will definitely win an Olympic medal and bring it back to India” – she said to The Hindu Indian newspaper.

Next up for Mirabai is the 2019 Asian Championships which is a qualification event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Source: sportskeeda.com

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