Ghar Ka Khana After 2 Years: Olympian Mirabai Chanu Is Celebrating Big Wins With Small Joys
Mirabai Chanu at Olympics shone for the country, realising her sporting dreams. Now, she's back home with family and celebrating in full measure for her victory.
Mirabai Chanu at Olympics gave a glittering start to the first day, winning India its first medal in this year's games. The 26-year-old picked silver in the women's weightlifting category, her stellar performance lauded by an entire nation that had hopes set on the young champion from Manipur.
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As seen in viral videos, crowds of people in Manipur - among them, most young children with prayers on their lips and dreams in their eyes - watched as Chanu made her winning lift. And as she raised her medal, a northeasterner and a woman, the sports star came through as an icon inspiring faith in the idea that aspirations always trump stereotypes.
Now, the long hard journey of rigorous training Chanu made to clinch victory in Tokyo has led her back home. Scores of family, admirers, fans and locals awaited to welcome the Olympian as she flew down after her stellar win.
In recognition of it all, Chanu has up until now been appointed the additional superintendent of Manipur police, been gifted with lifelong free pizzas and movies, and become a household name.
But away from the noise, she is finding her simpler moments of joy at home. On social media, an elated Chanu smiled as one does only when they "finally eat ghar ka khana after 2 years."
— Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 29, 2021
That Chanu is now enjoying the comfort of homemade food possibly indicates the sportswoman has had her fair share of pizza - the first food she expressed her wish to have after clinching her Olympic win. And now that a pizza brand has promised to ensure a free flow of the dish her way, Chanu can turn to her favourite food any time she wants.
Win For Mirabai Chanu At Olympics, Abundant Pride Back Home
Practice and training kept Chanu away from family for two whole years. The pride of excelling in her sport and winning laurels for the country appears to have made up for lost time. "Thank you Ema and baba for all the sacrifices you made for me to reach at this level," Chanu
— Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 28, 2021 thanking her parents.
Based in the Nongpok Kakching village, Chanu's parents were in tears after she opened the tally for India's medals at the Olympics, expressing immense pride in their daughter. From collecting firewood to contribute to her humble household as a child to firing up weightlifting dreams, Chanu has come a long way. Read her story here.
This feeling of meeting my family after a long span of 2 years is beyond words. I'm grateful to each one of you for showing faith in me and supporting me. Thank you Ema and baba for all the sacrifices you made for me to reach at this level. pic.twitter.com/RlXby6QoOv
— Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 28, 2021
"This will encourage women to enter weightlifting. I want to tell everyone that they should encourage girls to enter sports," Chanu has said of her Olympic win. Sure enough, girls everywhere are emulating her, pushing themselves forward on the faith their sporting icon has shown in no dream being too big.
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