Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has been announced the winner of the third edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year award. Chanu created history in 2021 when she became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal at an Olympic Games, when she finished second in the 49kg category in Tokyo.
Born in Manipur, the 27-year old weightlifter learned her craft by carrying firewood from the hills to her home. “I am currently training in the United States of America. I will give my best to win gold at this year’s Asian and Commonwealth Games. Thanks again to BBC India for honouring me with the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year award,” she said.
The Olympic silver medallist beat golfer Aditi Ashok, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, Para-shooter Avani Lekhara, and badminton player PV Sindhu to the award. The five nominees were selected by a panel of some of India's most authoritative sports journalists, experts and writers, with an online public vote then deciding the winner.
The BBC Emerging Player award was presented to 18-year-old cricketer Shafali Verma, who has recently been playing at the Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Karnam Malleswari, the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal with her weightlifting bronze at the 2000 Games in Sydney, was presented with the BBC Lifetime Achievement award.