'I want to tell female athletes not to shy away from talking about their periods'

An Olympic silver, three World Championship medals, including a gold, three Commonwealth Games golds and a bronze might seem enough for any athlete. Not for Mirabai Chanu. The missing piece was an Asian Games medal, a dream she had chased since 2013. That wait ended in Nagoya, where the 32-year-old finally clinched silver. Mirabai spoke to Manuja Veerappa & Sabi Hussain about facing her fears and the next Olympic challengeConsidering you missed out on a medal in the previous Games because of an injury, did that weigh on your mind?Of course, I thought about it. Not just here. Even while training, I could never forget that moment. It still hurts a lot. Until now, the Asian Games had been somewhat jinxed for me. I kept thinking about what happened to me in the run-up or during the Games. What was I missing? But this is part of an athlete’s life. We need to face it. If we don’t face it, we won’t get what we want.How different were these Games compared to the previous ones?This time, I didn’t think too much about what I wanted to do or what I didn’t. I came in with a lot of confidence. I knew my training was going well, so I decided I had to return to India with a medal.Having finally won a medal, will this be your last Asian Games?I competed as if this was my last Asian Games. The next one in Doha is four years away, and four years is a very long time in any athlete’s life. I don’t know what life will hold for me by then. For now, I have no plans for Doha. I felt Aichi-Nagoya was perhaps my best — and maybe my only — chance to get on the podium and win the Asian Games medal that was missing from my cabinet. It was a dream to stand on the podium at the Asian Games, and I have finally achieved it. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that this medal is no less than an Olympic medal for me because I waited years for it. It has given me immense joy and happiness.What was the focus during your training?We didn’t change much in training. The focus was on staying injury-free and maintaining my fitness. I did a lot of strength training in preparation for this event. We focused more on perfecting my snatch because that was going to be the key.You’ve stayed away from the phone and social media for a while.After the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, my only focus was on an Asian Games medal, and I didn’t want any distractions. I stayed away from my mobile phone and social media. My coach, Vijay Sharma sir, would occasionally make me speak to my family in Manipur. They were the only people I stayed in touch with. Even on days when my training didn’t go well, or I was feeling low, I didn’t speak to my family because that would worry them. It was like I had locked myself in a bubble.Often, women shy away from talking about changes in their bodies, especially during menstrual cycles. But you’ve been open about how being on the third day of your cycle affected you in the Paris Olympics. How important is it to talk to coaches about it?As women, we go through a lot. Periods can be tough, both mentally and physically. So, it is even more important to accept it and be professional and open with your coaches. I know a lot of girls, especially those from rural backgrounds, shy away from talking to male coaches about it. That shouldn’t be the case because then you are the loser. I had my period during the competition in Nagoya, and I discussed it with my coach. As weightlifters, apart from cramps, we have to deal with a tired body and a loose back. Only when we are open about it can coaches decide on load management. I want to tell all female athletes, whether young or old, to speak to their coaches and support staff about what they are going through.What does your success mean for people back home in Manipur?It means a lot, and I’m very happy that over the years, athletes from Manipur have come into focus. I’m glad that I have played a small part in that. It has helped change people’s mindset because, in rural areas, there is hardly any focus on girls, and they are often left out of sports. Girls are game-changers, and parents need to realise that. At the heart of all our success is the support we receive from our families, and every girl who steps into a sporting arena deserves that.Your thoughts on the 2028 LA Olympics…There is no time to rest on my laurels. For me, the road to the LA Games starts now. The ultimate target is to win a medal there. I will be visiting my hometown in Manipur for a while because I haven’t been home in a long time. Then training resumes. In Dec, we will have our first Olympic qualifier. I want to qualify early so that I have enough time to prepare properly. Also, there is no 49 kg weight category at the Olympics anymore. So, I will be competing in the 53 kg category. That’s a fresh challenge for me, moving up to a higher weight category. I will have to put on some weight and make necessary adjustments.