Mirabai Chanu
Union Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of all eight North-Eastern states on Saturday gave a standing ovation to Mirabai Chanu who took home India’s first Olympic medal in weightlifting at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, officials said.
Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh broke the news during the meeting which was chaired by the Union Home Minister following which everyone in the meeting here gave the standing ovation with pride, they said.
Singh announced a Rs 1 crore package besides other perks an Olympian enjoys besides reserving a special post for the 26-year-old Manipur woman.
"I broke the news to everyone in the meeting that Mirabai has opened the medal tally for India in the Olympics with a silver medal. On hearing the news, Amit Shah ji was so delighted and reached out for the mic saying it is a great pride for India," Biren posted a video of his video conversation with the Olympian.
"Everyone along with Amit Shah ji gave a standing ovation during the conference," he said.
All eight CMs of the Northeast are attending a meeting presided over by Shah in Meghalaya's capital Shillong.
Meanwhile, Protonix Fortuner India Pvt Limited, one of country's major solar and LED lights manufacturers, has also announced a cash prize worth Rs 1 lakh for Mirabai Chanu.
"It is always a great feeling to see Indian athletes and sportpersons bringing glory to the country at global sporting events. Tokyo Olympics was the most awaited international event since the outbreak of the pandemic and there can be no better start to it than an Indian winning a medal. It is a small token of appreciation for Mirabai which we hope would help her achieve bigger dreams in future and can also motivate others," Protonix Fortuner's co-founders Anil Bhushan and Ashish Choudhary said in a statement.
