CHENNAI: Ace lifter Mirabai Chanu will know whether she is cleared to take part in the Asian Games next week. Chanu, who has not lifted a single weight for the last six to eight weeks thanks to a troublesome back, will know her fate after a doctors committee meeting next week. “The committee will meet next week and we will know whether she can take part,” national weightlifting coach Vijay Sharma told Express.
The initial red flags appeared when Chanu, who was training in a high-altitude camp in Shilaroo in May, complained about her back. Since then, Chanu hasn’t lifted weights on the advice of doctors. “She has been advised rest but she is on her regular fitness programme.” This is a dampener to India’s hopes in lifting as the 24-year-old, who started India’s CWG gold rush, is one of the very few medal prospects in the discipline.
In better news, Sathish Sivalingam is already in tournament mode and is with the national camp, according to Sharma. Sivalingam, who injured his thigh during CWG, had taken a break after his exploits and there were reports about whether he would recover in time to compete in Jakarta.