Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth8 August 1994
Age30 Years
BirthplaceNongpok Kakching, Imphal East, Manipur, India
ProfessionIndian Weightlifter
NationalityIndian
Marital statusUnmarried
FamilyFather: Saikhom Kriti Meitei; Mother: Saikohm Ongbi Tombi Leima; Siblings include Saikhom Sanatomba Meitei, Saikom Rangita, Saikhom Shaya
Mirabai Chanu Biography
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is an Indian weightlifter from Manipur who has won medals at the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Olympics. A world,,4
Early life and backgroundSaikhom Mirabai Chanu was born on 8 August 1994 in Nongpok Kakching, Imphal East, Manipur. She is the youngest of six children. Her father, Saikhom Kriti Meitei, worked for the Public Works Department, and her mother, Saikohm Ongbi Tombi Leima, ran a shop. Growing up in Manipur, Chanu travelled long distances for training; she began formal weightlifting at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal in 2008 because there was no local facility in her village.
Her first competitive success came early: she won a local gold medal at age 11. As she progressed through junior events, she claimed gold at the 2011 International Youth Championship and at the South Asian Junior Games. In 2013 she earned the Best Lifter award at the Junior National Championship in Guwahati.
Career
Chanu’s international breakthrough continued through the 2010s. She won a silver medal in the women’s 48 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, lifting a total of 170 kg. She qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics but did not complete her event there.
In 2017 she returned to major international competition determined to move past the disappointment of Rio. At the World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim she lifted a combined total of 194 kg (85 kg snatch, 109 kg clean and jerk) and won the gold medal, delivering India its first world championship title in weightlifting since the mid-1990s.
Chanu continued to set benchmarks for Indian weightlifting. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast she won gold in the women’s 48 kg class with a 196 kg total (86 kg snatch, 110 kg clean and jerk), surpassing the previous Commonwealth mark. She was honored with two of India’s top sporting awards later that year: the Padma Shri and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics she won a silver medal, becoming the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal. Her success at the Olympics was followed by additional national and international podium finishes: she won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, gold at the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, and silver at the 2022 World Championships in Bogotá. She also claimed bronze at the 2020 Asian Championships in Tashkent.
Chanu has competed primarily in the lighter weight divisions, including 48 kg and later competition at 49 kg and 55 kg categories. In April 2021 she recorded a 119 kg clean and jerk at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, a lift that was noted as a world record at that event. In February 2022 she won gold at the Singapore Weightlifting International in the 55 kg class with a 191 kg total (86 kg snatch, 105 kg clean and jerk), a result that helped secure her place for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Her coaches have included Vijay Sharma and Aaron Horschig. Outside international meets, she was appointed as a Senior Ticket Collector with Indian Railways in August 2015 and later received state-level appointments in Manipur, including being named Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) in January 2022.
Public profile
Chanu’s achievements have been recognized with several awards and civic honors. She received the Padma Shri in 2018 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award the same year. Following her Olympic silver in Tokyo, the Manipur government announced a cash award, and she was felicitated by the state’s chief minister on multiple occasions. In 2021 she was named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year.
Her public role has extended beyond competition: she was appointed brand ambassador of the North Eastern Re Organising Cultural Association (NEROCA) FC in 2021 and was chosen as the face of Adidas’s Stay in Play campaign the same year. She appeared on the cover of Vogue in October 2021.
Personal details
Chanu is listed at approximately 150 cm (4'11") in height and around 48 kg (106 lbs) in weight for competition. Her eye color is described as black and her hair color as dark brown. She follows a non-vegetarian diet and lists hobbies such as travelling, listening to music and playing basketball. Her family includes a brother, Saikhom Sanatomba Meitei, and sisters Saikom Rangita and Saikhom Shaya.
Latest updates
In early 2022 she continued to collect national honours and sporting successes, including Commonwealth Games qualification and state recognition. The excerpt also notes a later administrative role within the sport: in April 2025 Mirabai Chanu was appointed chairperson of the Indian Weightlifting Federation’s Athletes Commission.
Editorial Review and Sources
This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Mirabai Chanu, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.
Reference context: StarsUnfoldedAccuracy
Request a Correction
Tell us what needs to be updated and share a reliable source so the editorial team can review it.
Ownership
Claim This Profile
If this profile is about you or your client, send your contact details and verification context.
Recent Work
Won gold medal in 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 49kg category
2022Won silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
2021Won gold medal in 2017 with a 194 kg total
2017Career Highlights
- Gold medal, World Weightlifting Championships (Anaheim, 2017)
- Silver medal, Tokyo Olympics (2020)
- Gold medals, Commonwealth Games (2018 Gold Coast; 2022 Birmingham)
- Padma Shri (2018)
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2018)
- BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (2021)
People Also Search For
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Mirabai Chanu born?
Mirabai Chanu was born on 8 August 1994.
What is Mirabai Chanu known for?
Mirabai Chanu is known for indian Weightlifter.
What is Mirabai Chanu’s marital status?
Mirabai Chanu's marital status is listed as Unmarried.
Related Biographies
View all →
Celebrities☑️Chandru Raheja
Chandru Lachmandas Raheja is an Indian businessman known for leading K. Raheja Corporation and for his long career in real estate, retail and hospitality.ト
Updated 2026-10-04
Celebrities✅Neel Raheja
Neel Chandru Raheja is an Indian businessman who serves as Group President of K Raheja Corp. Born in Mumbai in 1974, he has guided the family's expansion—b
Updated 2026-10-04
Celebrities✅Ravi Raheja
Ravi Chandru Raheja is an Indian businessman known for his leadership role at K. Raheja Corporation. Born and raised in Mumbai, he holds degrees from the H
Updated 2026-10-04
Celebrities6 Girlfriends Of Salman Khan
A look at six women who have been linked to Bollywood star Salman Khan over the years, from early romances to high-profile relationships that captured wide
Updated 2026-10-04