India’s campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics faced another disappointment as Mirabai Chanu finished fourth in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event at South Paris Arena. In her third Olympic appearance, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, lifted a total of 199kg (88kg snatch + 111kg clean and jerk), narrowly missing a podium spot in a closely contested event.
China’s Hou Zhihui defended her title with a combined lift of 206kg (89kg snatch + 117kg clean and jerk), setting a new Olympic record in clean and jerk. Romania’s Mihaela Cambei claimed silver with an overall lift of 205kg (93kg snatch + 112kg clean and jerk), while Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao took bronze with a total of 200kg (88kg snatch + 112kg clean and jerk).
Mirabai Chanu started with an 85kg snatch and managed 88kg on her third attempt, matching her personal best and the national record. Despite a shaky start in the clean and jerk, failing her first 111kg attempt, she succeeded on her second try but missed her final 114kg attempt, finishing with a total of 199kg.
This fourth-place finish marked India’s sixth such finish at the Paris 2024 Games, following narrow misses in archery, badminton, and shooting. Mirabai Chanu had secured the sole weightlifting quota for India at these Olympics, highlighting the intense competition and the narrow margins that define Olympic success.
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