Blow for India, star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu pulls out of Asian Games 2018

Major blow for India’s medal hope, ahead of Asian Games 2018, after star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu announced on Tuesday that she will not participate in the upcoming event in Jakarta.

According to ANI, she wrote a letter to Indian Weightlifting Federation requesting them to give her rest as she is not currently fit, owing to a backache, and wants to prepare for Olympics qualifier.

Earlier, Chanu had said she was confident of recovering from her back injury well before the Asian Games.

Weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu will not participate in the Asian Games. She had written a letter to Indian Weightlifting Federation requesting them to give her rest as she is not currently fit, owing to a backache, and wants to prepare for Olympics qualifier. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/7Q198b9Yka

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2018

Mirabai had complained of discomfort in her lower back in May. The injury has since puzzled doctors across the country, who are unable to diagnose the cause.

"I am confident that in two weeks I can prepare well for the Asian Games. The pain started around May 25. I travelled to several places including Delhi and Mumbai for treatment but the doctors are not able to diagnose what exactly the injury is. All tests have come back normal, the X-rays also don't show anything," she had said.

She had even said that the pain was subsiding. “The treatment prescribed is working, in the past two days the pain has been less. Within 2-3 weeks if the pain continues to lessen, I will be able to lift weights."

The doctors have advised Mirabai, who competes in the 48kg category, to refrain from lifting heavy weights. The world champion has been training at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala, where she is limiting herself to just upper body training.

"I am in Patiala with everyone else in the camp, because we thought if I get treated here I can resume weightlifting as soon as the pain subsides. I am just concentrating on bodybuilding, and strengthening my upper body," she had added.