Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, on Saturday, opened India’s medal tally at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning a silver medal in the women’s 49kg category on Saturday. She ended India’s over two-decades-long wait for a weight lifting medal at the Summer Games.

With her historic feat, she ensured that India was second on the medals tally, a feat that has never been achieved before by India.

It was also the first time that India managed to win a medal on the opening day competitions.

The weightlifter from Manipur lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“I am very happy, I have been dreaming of this for the past five years. I am very proud of myself right now. I did try for gold but even silver is a great achievement for me,” Chanu told reporters after her match.

The 2016 experience, where she failed to complete a successful lift, was a watershed in her career and Chanu had spoken about how confused she had felt during her debut at the biggest stage.

“I am very happy to win the first medal for India at these Games. I don’t just belong to Manipur, I belong to the whole country,” she said on being asked about what it meant for her as a Manipuri.

“I would like to thank my coach Vijay Sharma and the support staff for their continuous hard work, motivation and training,” she added.

“I would like to thank my family, especially my mother for a lot of sacrifices and believing in me,” she said.

The gold medal was won by China’s Hou Zhihui who lifted a total of 210kg (94kg+116kg) and created an Olympic record in all three categories (snatch, clean and jerk and Total).

Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze with an effort of 194kg (84kg+110kg).

In the clean and jerk, world record holder Chanu lifted 110kg and 115kg in the first two attempts.

However, she was unable to raise 117kg in her final attempt, which would have been an Olympic record. Even though she could not achieve it, she took home the silver.

She later broke into a punjabi bhangra too to celebrate the historic podium finish, news agency PTI reported.