HOU Zhihui claims maiden Olympic gold in women's 49kg weightlifting; India wins first medal at the Games
The Chinese weightlifter hit two birds in one stone as she sailed away as the new Olympic champion of women's 49kg category and also set new Olympic records
Weightlifting
People's Republic of China's HOU Zhihui nabbed the first Olympic gold medal of her career as she showed her phenomenal form at women's 49kg - the first weightlifting event to take place on Day 1 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The Chinese athlete also set three Olympic records: in snatch, she lifted 94kg and she was also went no holds barred for the clean and jerk round by lifting 116kg - and finished with a total 210kg, which is also a new Olympic record.
Speaking to the press after the competition, Hou, who won China's second medal of the day said: "I would very much like to thank my team and coach they have always put their trust in me and always believed that I will succeed."
Meanwhile Indian athlete Chanu Saikhom Mirabai finally found Olympic redemption at Tokyo 2020 and buried her Rio 2016 disappointment as she finished with a total of 202kg behind Hou and clinched second place to win India's first Olympic medal in weightlifting.
"Before I worked very hard but could not medal [at London 2012 and Rio 2016, but this time I feel very happy to [finally] medal [at Tokyo 2020]."
Indonesia's Windy Cantikah Aisah, who made her Olympic debut today, won bronze with 194 points behind Mirabai, whilst Jourdan Delcruz of the United States was third after the snatch portion of the competition but failed on all three of her lifts in the clean and jerk.
Japanese two time Olympic medallist MIYAKE Hiromi came empty-headed in her fifth Olympics and home Games. She had difficulty clearing attempts in both the snatch and clean and jerk rounds and failed to enter the Top 10.
However before the competition took place, Miyake told the press:
"To be honest, I did not expect to make it five times,” MIYAKE said. “It is a proud achievement to make the Olympics for a fifth time.
"I was able to do this because of the support of the people around me. The Tokyo Olympics were a goal for me. I want to fully enjoy my last Olympics."
The AP contributed to this article.