Manipur, India, July 28, 2021: “Long live Mirabai, long live Manipur”. The slogan reverberated through the streets of Imphal on Tuesday, July 27, as Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu made her way to her native village of Nongpok Kakching.
Chanu landed at Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in the afternoon. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was there to receive Chanu, as were her parents and hundreds of well-wishers and supporters seeking a glimpse of the weightlifter.
With tears rolling down her face Chanu, who won the silver medal in the women’s 49kg class in Tokyo, hugged her mother Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima and her father Saikhom Kriti Meitei.
"This silver medal is even more special because of the love the people of India and my state Manipur have shown me. I'm grateful to each and every person who came today to congratulate me and gave me their blessings," Chanu tweeted.
From the airport, Chanu was escorted to the city convention centre where she was given a grand reception by the state government. During the felicitation event, Chanu was handed an award of over Rs. one crore (US$50,363) and an appointment letter to the post of Additional Superintendent of Police (sports) by the Chief Minister.
After the felicitation, Chanu headed to her native village led by a motorcade of well-wishers, local club members and police. Nongpok Kakching lies on the eastern side of Imphal Valley, about 20km from the state capital. Despite the ongoing curfew to curb COVID-19, hordes of young and old lined up to cheer Chanu along the way to her village.
“I have no words to express how happy I am. The love and support extended to me is overwhelming. Right from the airport till here, your warm welcome has made this day the greatest of my life,” Chanu said at a gathering in her village.
She added: “One of the driving forces for what I achieved is my desire to put Manipur on the roadmap of the world. It pains me to learn that people don’t know that a small state like Manipur exists.”
Source: Indian Express
