Imphal: Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is sharpening her focus for a first-ever Asian Games medal. She is holding weekly video consultations with American strength and conditioning coach Dr. Aaron Horschig to dodge recurring physical setbacks. These Thursday sessions cover training loads, recovery protocols, and overall fitness benchmarks.
Injury issues have derailed the 32-year-old in the past. She missed the 2018 Jakarta Games because of a back injury and took fourth place in Hangzhou during 2022 while nursing hip and thigh pain. She is not taking chances now. She returned to her training base in Modinagar under coach Vijay Sharma immediately after her Commonwealth Games victory, where she secured gold with a 190kg total.
The competition in Japan will prove brutal. She expects heavy hitters from China, North Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Mirabai will lead a five-member Indian weightlifting squad at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The event runs from September 19 to October 4, with weightlifting matches scheduled between September 22 and 28.
Mirabai remains motivated despite her recent fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, where she missed the bronze medal by a single kilogram. Reflecting on her rigorous preparation, she noted, "I hold a video call with Horschig every Thursday to review training, recovery and fitness." She currently holds a personal best total of 205kg, consisting of an 89kg snatch and a 116kg clean and jerk.
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