Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu – Self-made Weightlifter from Manipur with Formidable Weightlifting Legacy

Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu is an Indian weightlifter born on 2nd October 1978 in Imphal city, Manipur. She is one of the best weightlifters of the country and had won the Arjuna award in the year 2000. Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu makes her presence felt in international weightlifting arena through power-packed medal-winning performances. She has a number of national and international laurels that are pinned to her name.

^{Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu ,an Indian weightlifter}

Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu (born 2 October 1978) is an Indian weightlifter who competed in the women’s 53 kg weight class at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She had also won three golds at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and was a part of the core team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games at New Delhi. India is considered one of the weightlifting powerhouses in the Commonwealth, having won 93 medals, including 33 gold since 1966 when they took part for the first time.

Sanamacha Chanu always wanted to change weightlifting from a men dominated career and inspire other girls and women to follow their passion in weightlifting. She wanted to become an idol for women in India interested in weightlifting and other sports to come forward and achieve their dream. Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu worked so hard to make her dreams come true. She had left her village and went to Patiala, Punjab to pursue her dreams. Being alone and enduring sufferings had never weakened the determination of Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu. Her hardship finally paid off when she became a national champion.

The International Laurels of Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu Includes:

• 3 Silver medal in 1996 WORLD WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (POLAND)
• 4^th position in 1996 ASIAN WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (JAPAN)
• 4^th position in 1997 WORLD WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (THAILAND)
• 3 silver medals in 1998 WORLD WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (BULGARIA)
• 4^th position 1998 13^th ASIAN GAMES (THAILAND)
• 3 Gold medals in 1998 COMMONWEALTH WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (NAURU)
• 1999 WORLD WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP OLYMPIC QUALIFY (ATHENS)
• 3 Silver medals in 1999 ASIAN WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (CHINA)
• 3 Gold medals in 2000 ASIAN WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (JAPAN)
• 4^th position in 2000 SYDNEY OLYMPICS (AUSTRALIA)
• ARJUNA AWARD in 2000
• 3 Gold medals in 2000 COMMONWEALTH GAMES (ENGLAND)
• 5^th position in 14^th ASIAN GAMES (KOREA)
• 4^th position in 2003 ASIAN WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (KAZAKISTAN)
• 3 Gold medals in 2003 COMMONWEALTH WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP (TONGA)
• 4^th position in 2004 ATHENCE OLYMPICS
• 4^th position in 2007 ASIAN WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP

Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu had been a national champion for eleven times in her career. She has also set national records for five times and was also the best weightlifter of the country for three times. Sanamacha Chanu (Weighlifting) had also been All India Police Meet Champion for five times. She had also participated in the World Weightlifting Police Meet and World Power Lifting Police Meet in 1999.