Leander Paes and Mirabai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu earned India’s first medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, as she struck silver in women’s 49kg weightlifting
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu from Manipur won India’s first medal at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics, on the very first day of the games.
She earned the silver medal in the 49kg women’s division. Accumulating 202 in total after clearing 87kg in Snatch and 115kg in Clean & Jerk, the 26-year old placed second. This was only India’s second medal in weightlifting after Karnam Malleshwari won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The nation erupted and wishes poured in from all corners of the world for Chanu. She was also awarded a whopping $1,400,000 by a private donor.
Following her win, Chanu told the press that the first thing she would be doing is – “go and have a pizza”. Dominos Pizza India came up with a lifetime-free Pizza offer for making the nation proud.
1996 Olympics bronze medalist, and former tennis star Leander Paes was proud like every other Indian. He congratulated Chanu on her success with a humourous undertone claiming that she “earned that pizza”.
Paes wrote on Twitter:
“Way to take the Olympic fever and Inspiration to a new high on day 1 @mirabai_chanu . You definitely earned that pizza! Keep inspiring athletes everywhere! Congratulations on your medal win. #Tokyo2020 #Olympics.”
It is worth noting that Paes won India’s first and only medal in Tennis in the history of the Olympic Games.
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Follow our dedicated Tennis page for instant Tennis news and updatesLeander Paes jokes Mirabai Chanu earned this after winning silver in 2020 Olympics