EXCLUSIVE | By Prarthana Hazarika
Nagoya, Sept 23: Years of waiting, relentless training and an unshakeable dream finally found their moment on the Asian Games podium. For Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, the silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event was more than a personal triumph. It was the fulfilment of a dream she had carried for years — to win an Asian Games medal for India.
“I’m very, very happy. I cannot even express how happy I am. We had been waiting for this day for so many years. Today, that dream has finally been fulfilled. My dream was to win a medal for India,” Mirabai told The Meghalayan Express in an exclusive interview from Nagoya.
India’s wait for an Asian Games weightlifting medal had stretched 28 years. Mirabai’s silver ended that drought, adding another defining chapter to the career of one of India’s most celebrated weightlifters.
But beyond the medal and the historic milestone, there was another emotion that came through unmistakably in her conversation — gratitude for the love and support she continues to receive from Manipur and the wider Northeast.
A daughter of Manipur, Mirabai has long been a source of pride across the region. Her achievements have inspired young athletes well beyond her home state, with her journey followed closely by sports enthusiasts in Assam and other parts of the Northeast.
Acknowledging that deep-rooted connection, the Olympic medallist was quick to underline that while her roots are in Manipur, her mission on the international stage has always been to represent India.
“I belong to Manipur, to the Northeast, and there are so many good players from our region. We have an opportunity to do something for the Northeast and for India. Whatever I do, I do it for India. I am not doing it only for the Northeast or Manipur. I am doing it for India,” she said.
The affection and encouragement she has received from people across the region, she added, have been an important part of her journey.
“Wherever I go, whether it is Manipur or the Northeast, my friends and people around me have given me so much love and support. This is a very big achievement for me because of their love. I want to thank everyone for the affection, the cheers and the support they have given me,” Mirabai said.
For the 31-year-old, the medal also carries a message for the next generation of athletes, particularly young girls from the Northeast who dream of making a mark in sport.
Having herself drawn inspiration from senior athletes, Mirabai hopes her journey will encourage more youngsters to take up weightlifting and other sporting disciplines.
“I would be very happy if young athletes see my journey, my history and my medals and get inspired to start weightlifting. If they look at me and begin their own journey, that would make me very happy,” she said.
Her dream is not simply to inspire one or two athletes, but to see an entire generation emerge from the region.
“I would be so happy if, one day, there are not just one Mirabai, but many Mirabais. I want more good players to come out of the Northeast. What could be better than that? I want athletes from the Northeast to emerge in every sport.”
And for those youngsters who are already nurturing sporting ambitions, her message is clear: take the first step, work hard and believe in the journey.
“Those who want to come into sports should definitely come. They must work very hard. I will also help in whatever way I can,” she said.
Mirabai’s connection with India is also reflected in the smallest details of her competition-day routine. Even her tricolour-themed nail art carries a special significance, serving as a reminder of the country she represents every time she steps onto the lifting platform.
Asked how such symbols motivate her, Mirabai said they give her immense inspiration — not merely for her own performance, but for the country.
“It gives me a lot of motivation. Whenever it is about India, I feel very happy and motivated. I feel that I have something with me, that I have done something for India. That happiness motivates me to do something in every competition,” she said.
For now, however, the focus is on savouring a moment that took years to arrive.
With the Asian Games medal secured, Mirabai is not rushing into discussions about her next target. The immediate priority is to enjoy the achievement before turning her attention to the next chapter.
“For now, I just want to enjoy this moment. I am not thinking about anything else at the moment. When I return to India, I will think about what comes next and what my next target will be,” she said.
For a weightlifter who has carried the hopes of a nation through triumphs and setbacks, Nagoya has delivered a moment worth celebrating.
And across Manipur, Assam and the wider Northeast, Mirabai’s silver is being celebrated not merely as a medal won by one athlete, but as a moment of collective pride — a reminder that the region’s sporting dreams can reach the highest podiums in the world.
