India's weightlifter Mirabai Chanu clinches ninth gold medal

Mirabai Chanu, a weightlifter from Manipur's remote village, rose from childhood work carrying bricks to become India's top female lifter. Her relentless training earned her gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the South Asian Games, bringing her total to nine. The latest triumph was celebrated as she lifted the national anthem while holding her ninth gold, underscoring her role as a symbol of perseverance and national pride.

Her background includes a family of laborers, with her father working as a daily wage worker and her mother running a tea stall. Despite limited resources, Chanu's strength was evident from a young age, lifting heavy loads that later translated into international success.