Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday congratulated star Indian lifter Mirabai Chanu for qualifying for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in the women's 49kg category.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Saturday confirmed the Manipur weightlifter's entry to the prestigious sporting event.
The Chief Minister took to Twitter and wrote, "Hearty congratulations to @mirabai_chanu on qualifying for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in Women's 49 Kg category. Mirabai Chanu has been ranked 2nd in the @iwfnet's Absolute Ranking List in the 49 Kg category. May your hard work and dedication bring laurels to the country".
The 26-year-old lifter qualified based on her standings at the IWF's Absolute Ranking list. The Indian lifter is ranked second in the 49kg category with 4133,6172 points.
Chanu, the 2017 world champion in weightlifting, had secured her place in Tokyo by winning a bronze medal in the Asian Championship in Tashkent in April with a world record in clean and jerk.
'Many congratulations to #TOPSAthlete weightlifter @mirabai_chanu who has qualified for #Tokyo2020 after @iwfnet published its Absolute Ranking list where she is placed 2nd in the women's 49 kg,' Sports Authority of India (SAI) tweeted.
Chanu was earlier ranked fourth but North Korea's withdrawal from the Olympics lifted the Indian to the second place.
This will be Chanu's second appearance in the Olympics, five years after a disappointing outing in Rio, where she failed to lift any of the weights in clean and jerk to bow out of the showpiece.
The final list will be released on June 25.
As per IWF rules, the top eight lifters in each of the 14 weight categories, including seven in the women's group, are eligible to compete in the Games.