The 32-year-old may be tiny in stature but she is a big star back home after adding a third Commonwealth Games gold in July to a bulging medal collection that includes a world gold nine years ago and a Tokyo Olympics silver.The 150cm (4ft 11in) Chanu has had no respite since her golden exploits in Glasgow, where she won the women's 48kg class by hoisting a Commonwealth Games record 190kg.
Mirabai Chanu says she chose weightlifting at 13 and has never looked back © Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
She skipped a trip back home to the northeastern Manipur state and went straight back into training camp in New Delhi. After sweating and grunting through a gruelling session, she told AFP she was confident of finally standing on an Asian Games podium at her third attempt. "It's so close," said Chanu, who was ninth in Incheon in 2014 and an agonising fourth three years ago in Hangzhou on her previous Asian Games appearances. "I strongly feel that I will not let go of this chance," said Chanu, who will take part in the 49kg class on September 23 at the Nagoya-Aichi Games. "Since I started weightlifting my aim has been to win an Asian Games medal," added Chanu, who is "riding on confidence" after the Commonwealth Games.North Korea and China traditionally dominate women's weightlifting and Chanu admitted it was going to be hard to break their podium stranglehold."It is a strong field at weightlifting in the Asian Games but my preparation is good and I feel confident," she said.Chanu, the youngest of six siblings, grew up in a Manipur village.Her father, mother and two brothers played football and encouraged her to pursue sport despite the family's financial struggles."I am lucky to have come out of a sports family and my mother always encouraged me to take up sports as a career," said Chanu.Village to podiumShe chose weightlifting at 13 and has never looked back.
