Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu opened India's medals tally on Saturday as she bagged a silver in the Women's 49kg category here at Tokyo Olympics 2021. 

Manipuri girl Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition. China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record, while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg.

The gold went to China's Hou Zhihui with an effort of 210kg (94kg+116kg), while Aisah Windy Cantika of Indonesia took home the bronze by lifting 194kg. 

Considered her weakness in the run-up to the marquee event, Chanu attempted 84kg in her first snatch attempt. The Manipuri took her time and cleanly heaved the barbell.

She lifted 87kg in her next attempt and raised the weight to 89kg, which was one 1kg more than her personal best of 88kg that she had lifted at the national championship last year.

However, she was unable to better her personal best and settled for 87kg in the snatch event only behind leader Zhihui, who created a new Olympic record with an effort of 94kg.

The Chinese lifter also holds the world mark (96kg) in the category. Chanu, the world record holder in the section, lifted 110kg and 115kg in the first two attempts in the clean jerk.

However, she could not raise 117kg in her final attempt, but it was enough to fetch her a medal and open India's account.

Karnam Malleswari's bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With this, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games, where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Meera Bai her historical achievement in Tokyo Olympics.