Boria Majumdar
In an exclusive interview with RevSportz at the Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton, celebrated Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu spoke about her fitness and preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, while emphasising that her ultimate target is the Asian Games, where she is yet to win a medal.
She discussed the challenge of managing and maintaining her body weight during the transition from the Commonwealth Games to the Asian Games. Mirabai also reflected on the role of her coach, Vijay Sharma, in her preparations and expressed gratitude to the Government and the Federation for facilitating a month-long training camp at the Performance Hub.
Boria: How are fitness and preparations leading into Glasgow?
Chanu: It’s going very well here. I am very lucky that I came to Birmingham earlier and trained here. We are all hoping that we will all get medals for India. Everything is going very well. I will try my best to get a gold medal for India.
Boria: If there was a problem in your last two Asian Games, that is fitness. Are you 100% okay?
Chanu: Yes, I am 100% okay. I am fully recovered. I am under the constant guidance of my physio in terms of what exercises I am supposed to do. I am doing all that is possible to stay fit. And in case of a niggle, I take extra guidance on how to work on the other parts of the body without harming the injury further.
So I am really looking forward to the Commonwealth Games for sure and even more so to the Asian Games, which is my ultimate target.
Boria: There is a difference of 1.5-2 months between the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. How do you deal with adjusting your body weight and managing it for the two tournaments?
Chanu: Yes, body weight can be a problem. Because I am going to play in 48 kg and then 49 kg. So I have to adjust my body weight in both tournaments. Other players in the Asian Games will most probably be ready for that category and I will have to exercise body control while playing so there can be less pressure on my body. But I will try my best to adjust and will be keeping my weight in check, which I control anyways.
Boria: Do you have this mindset that, okay, I will push in the Commonwealth Games but I will also keep in mind that the ultimate target is the Asian Games?
Chanu: I will try my best in both. I want to see if and what I can improve in the Asian Games and take the Commonwealth Games as the stepping stone. I want to train accordingly and see my performance in the Asian Games, but the ultimate target will be the Asian Games.
Boria: In weightlifting, at least 8-9 medals are expected. Do you feel pressure?
Chanu: Yes, we feel pressure. As there will be a lesser number of sports this time, we will have to focus and try to get as many medals as possible. If we don’t get gold, we will try to get silver.
Boria: A word on the Federation and Government for arranging training at the Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton. Also, a word on coach Vijay Sharma (chief coach of the Indian weightlifting team).
Chanu: We have been training here in Birmingham for the last one month and many thanks to the Federation and Government, as they encouraged us to come and train here before the Games. And about Vijay sir, he does everything for us. Whatever is needed to be done before the Games or after the Games, diet, etc., he takes care of everything.
Boria: Thank you very much.
(Transcribed by Divyasree De.)
The post I am looking forward to the Commonwealth Games for sure and even more so to the Asian Games, which is my ultimate target”: Mirabai Chanu appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
