Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on Saturday clinched India’s first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. The 27-year-old beat a field of 11 lifters in the 49kg final.

Chanu lifted a total of 201kg to give India their third medal at the games. During the finals, the Imphal based athlete broke a Commonwealth Games record. 

Sporting her famous ‘lucky’ earrings shaped like the Olympic rings, Chanu lifted more than twice her body weight (109kg, 113kg) in the clean and jerk, in which she holds the world record (119kg).

Watch the winning moment here 

Also Read: Why India’s Commonwealth medal hunt will be led by weightlifters

Following her victory, PM Narendra Modi and several other political leaders congratulated her on social media.

 “The exceptional @mirabai_chanu makes India proud once again! Every Indian is delighted that she’s won a Gold and set a new Commonwealth record at the Birmingham Games. Her success inspires several Indians, especially budding athletes,” Modi tweeted.

“India strikes Gold!🥇🇮🇳 Heartiest congratulations to the CWG defending champion and the pride of India, @mirabai_chanu for once again clinching a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, in the 49 Kg category of weightlifting. We salute your determination. What an inspiration!” BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said.

“India strikes first Gold medal at the #CommonwealthGames 2022 Mirabai Chanu wins GOLD Medal in 49kg Women’s Weightlifting making India proud 🇮🇳Congratulations @mirabai_chanu !” India’s Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted.

“Stellar performance, yet again! Congratulations to @mirabai_chanu bagging the gold in the #CWG2022 for weight lifting.We are proud of you, Champion!” Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, weightlifter Sanket Sargar won India’s first medal at the Games with a silver in the 55kg men’s final. Sargar lifted 135 kg in his first attempt of clean and jerk before missing a weight of 139 kg in his second and third attempts in the final.

Weightlifter Gururaja Poojary gave India its second medal with his bronze finish in the men’s 61kg category.