Meet the Families That Gave Us Manipur’s Golden Girls at CWG 2018

Mirabai and Sanjita Chanu’s families recount their struggles while raising the weightlifters.

Mirabai Chanu (right) and Sanjita Chanu (left) after clinching gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

(Photo: The Quint)

Women weightlifters from Manipur Mirabai Chanu and Sanjita Chanu made the country proud in Australia at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games by bagging gold medals in their respective categories.

However, their journey to the gold was not easy. Their families went through several hardships to support them and sustain their lifestyle.

Mirabai Chanu gave India the first gold medal in this year’s games. However, this was not her first Commonwealth Games medal, she had won a silver in the Glasgow games in 2014. Sanjita on the other hand, bagged gold in the 2014 games.

Mirabai’s family did not have the means to support her passion towards sports.

“She (Mirabai) was passionate from a very tender age. Due to lack of conveyance, truck drivers who used to ferry sand and pebbles from the village to Khuman Lampak gave her free rides to the training centre”, Kriti Saikhom, Mirabai’s father said.

The families have had to make a lot of sacrifices in order to help the girls follow their dreams. Rangita Saikhom, Mirabai’s sister, was also passionate about sports but had to quit because of the family’s financial condition. However, her full support went to her sister when Mirabai picked up weightlifting.

“I used to love sports from childhood. At that time, our financial condition was really bad. Eventually, I had to quit”, Rangita said.

When Mirabai started weightlifting at a very young age, I supported her. I advised her to focus and commit herself to the sport. She is able to reach at this stage only because of her passion and dedication.

Rangita Saikom, Mirabai Chanu’s sister

So bad was Mirabai’s family’s condition that they were not even able to afford her dietary requirements initially.

“She mentioned about her dietary requirements. I told her I won’t be unable to meet her dietary needs. She said she would be fine if she could get some bananas and eggs. But I couldn’t afford eggs. I couldn’t fulfil her dietary needs”, her mother said as her voice trembled with emotions.

For Sanjita, the difficulties were not limited to the family’s financial condition. Initially, she found it difficult to cope with the exhaustion of participating in national tournaments as well.

In her first tournament at Khuman Lampak, I remember that I got a phone call that after the competition, she (Sanjita) had spit blood. That became a regular trend. After every tournament, she was hospitalised. From that stage, she has reached to such a level that she is bringing laurels for the country. I really feel proud of her.

Bijen Khumukcham, Sanjita’s brother

Both the Manipuri girls’ families supported them in every way possible despite the hardships they have faced throughout. Their struggle has eventually paid off as the country has cherished their golden success at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

However, they go back straight to training camp after the games to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in August.