Sanamacha Chanu - A weightlifting powerhouse built of determination and hard work

Sanamacha Thingbaijam Chanu (born 1 February 1975) 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 had played a great role in contributing to the achievements of India in the weightlifting categories in international championships.

The 46-year-old Chanu, is one of the most successful woman weightlifters in the country. Sanamacha Chanu, whose awards include the Arjuna trophy had also been included in the national contingent for the Busan Asian Games, but could not participate because of an injury. She was born in Imphal, Manipur, the place which had contributed many of its people to Indian weightlifting.

sanamacha chanu

Sanamacha Chanu had an interest in sports at a very young age. The start of their weightlifting career in her life was in 1992 when she was 14 years old. From then on, she won many national and international competitions in her life. Her international laurels include winning silver in World Weightlifting Championships in 1996 and 1998, winning gold in 1998 commonwealth weightlifting champion, silver in 1999 Asian weightlifting championship and gold in 2000 Asian weightlifting championship etc. to name a few. She had also won three gold medals in 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and three golds in 2003 Commonwealth Games in Tonga.

Sanamacha 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. Chanu 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.