Mirabai Chanu ended India’s 21- year wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open the country’s medal tally at Tokyo. The 26-year-old lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Karnam Malleswari’s bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. What dazzled along with her triumphant smile was her pair of Olympic themed gold earrings. The earrings were gifted to her by her mother as a good luck charm. “I saw the earrings on TV, I gave them to her in 2016 before the (Rio) Olympics. I have made it for her from the gold pieces and savings I have so that it brings luck and success,” Saikhom Ongbi Tombi Leima, Mirabai’s mother, was quoted as saying. “I was in tears seeing it and also during the moment, she won the medal. Her father (Saikhom Kriti Meitei) was also in tears. Tears of joy. All her hard work has led to success,” she added.
A look back at the Olympics history would reveal some stories of players flaunting their bling as their good luck charm. One of them is retired figure skater Michelle Kwan, who always wore a gold dragon pendant, which was reportedly gifted to her by her grandmother for good luck.
