Mirabai Chanu, who injured her thigh during the weightlifting competition at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in October, is still weeks away from training again. Speaking to RevSportz on Friday, Sahdev Yadav, President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, said: “Mirabhai underwent an MRI scan in Mumbai on return from China. She has a tendon injury in her thigh, which is not serious.”
When Mirabai collapsed in pain at the Asian Games, the images were enough for spectators inside the arena and TV viewers alike to fear the worst. “Kuch ghabrane ke liye naheen hai, Paris Olympic medal to pucca aayega [There’s nothing to fear, the Olympic medal will definitely come in Paris],” said Sahdev. In his view, as Mirabai has already qualified for the Paris Olympics, she does not need to be rushed back into training.
“The doctors have said she can start rehab and strengthening but there is no question of lifting weights at this point in time,” he added. “We have to take good care of her and are doing so.”
Mirabai will have to “show up” at a couple of upcoming events, just to check her body weight. “She will go to Doha for the IWF (world body) Grand Prix II in December,” said Sahdev. “Basically, it is just to check her body weight. She does not have to compete there in Doha.”
As of now, it appears as if Mirabai will not be lifting weights before 2024. The Doha event will be held from December 4 to 14.
This is not the first time Mirabai has had to deal with injuries. It is questionable if she should have competed in the Asian Games in the first place, as she did have a hip niggle. Whether there was pressure to ensure she participated or not is unclear. Yet, the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist competed and could make only two attempts before she collapsed and hit the deck.
Just to jog the readers’ memory, when Mirabai did not do well in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she was heartbroken. She did not go back home to Manipur. Instead, she hit hard training mode at the national camp in Patiala. However, her back niggle was worrying. So, she decided to train under leading sports therapist Aaron Horschig in the United States of America, funded by the Sports Authority of India.
One is not sure what will be the rehab programme for Mirabhai, whether it will be in India or if she again goes to Horschig (US). For the record, her absence has not been noted amid the World Cup din. She was in no position to compete at the National Games in Goa.
Even though Mirabai is now away from heavy weights and barbells, news of her recovery needs to be monitored. Very recently, it became clear that PV Sindhu, dealing with a left knee “medial condyle strain” would be out of competition till February 2024. Injuries to key Indian athletes and medal hopefuls at the Paris Olympics are always worrying news.