NEW DELHI: Mirabai Chanu said that her failed campaign in Rio taught her how to overcome disappointment and make a fresh start.
In a virtual interaction, she said, “For a few months, I was completely heartbroken and shattered. I didn’t know what to do next. Then, Vijay sir instilled new confidence in me. I promised to shut out my detractors through my performance at the 2017 Worlds.
“I returned with a gold and there has been no looking back. Today, the medal in Tokyo has brought closure. All those sacrifices I made over the years have been rewarded.”
Mirabai has gone home to her village in Imphal only for a total of five weeks in the last five years. Naturally, she can’t wait to visit and gorge on her favourite home-cooked dish prepared by mother Saikhom Tombi Devi: iromba, a curry made with fermented fish and rice.
All this while, Mirabai has been training at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala and taking time off only to travel to Mumbai for
rehabilitation of her lower back injury. During this period, Mirabai missed her elder sister Shaya’s wedding too.
“My mother has been waiting for a proper visit for five years. You have to make these sacrifices to win an Olympic medal,” she said.
