2021 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year: Mirabai Chanu

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 29 March 2022

BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award 2021 was presented to, Mirabai Chanu, the weightlifter.

When she finished second in the 49kg category in Tokyo Chanu became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal at an Olympic Games.

In her reaction to winning the award, Chanu said: "I am currently training in the United States. I will give my best to win gold at this year's Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Thank you to BBC India for honouring me with the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year award."

"My brothers used to carry the wood in multiple trips", she told the BBC. "But I used to carry it all in one go."

In the the 48kg division at the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, Chanu won the gold medal.

Tim Davie, the BBC's director general, said, she is "a fantastic sportswoman and a deserving winner of the award". "It's wonderful to be here in Delhi in the BBC's centenary year, and to honour the talented Indian sportswomen who've achieved so much, often in the face of challenging circumstances," he added.

With an online public vote then deciding the winner the five nominees were selected by a panel of some of India's most authoritative sports journalists, experts and writers.

England cricketer Jos Buttler also sent a congratulatory message to the nominees, saying: "I have seen some great performances from Indian sportswomen in cricket and other sports. Women's cricket has progressed a lot in India and Shafali Verma has the opportunity to be a role model for the next generation. BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year award is a great way of honouring female players."