Ever since the onset of the Tokyo Olympics, PM Modi is surprisingly linked to every minor event whether related or not. Another such rumor made it to the list as recently an image went viral on social media which claims to show that a banner seen at the felicitation function for weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, after she clinched ‘silver’ at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the win. Chanu can be seen on stage along with several ministers including Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and Minister for Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju. The photo went viral with a caption which translates to, “Look at the back photo and read what is written once. Has Meera Bai Chanu brought the medal with hard work or has Modi ji brought it. If so, Modi ji can get medals to all Indian players.”
On July 24, 2021, Chanu won India its first medal on the first day of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by lifting a combined weight of 202 kg in the women’s 49 kg event to win silver. The fake banner has an added text in Hindi that reads, “Felecetation of Tokoyo Olympics Silver medalist Mirabai Chanu, Thank you Modiji for helping Mirabai Chanu win the medal”.
To check the fair dinkum of this random claim, reverse image search was performed, and a press release was found which was published on Press Information Bureau (PIB) on 27 July. The report carried the original image in which the text crediting PM Narendra Modi for the Olympic medal couldn’t be seen.
On comparing the viral image with the original one, several similar elements were found such as the positioning of people. However, there was a stark difference in the text that was used in the two. The blank space seen in the original image was used to add the text mentioned in the viral one.
Further, news channel DD News broadcast a bulletin that was uploaded on their YouTube handle on 26 July, in which Rijiju can be heard speaking from 10:03 minutes.
Meanwhile in an interview, Chanu thanked everyone and said, “I was able to win this medal because of the prayers and love of the people of India. I wish all young people especially girls who have entered sports to make the country proud. I dedicate my medal to the people of the country. I thank the prime minister and sports minister for encouraging me,” after returning to India on Monday. Recalling her journey after Rio Olympics, Chanu also added, “All my hopes and dreams were shattered after failing to win a medal in Rio Olympics. I had to make a comeback in weightlifting again. But later I realized that I can still do something for India. I worked hard, dealt with injuries and other difficulties and focused on my training. Because of all the hard work, today I reached this point.”
When asked what she would like to do for youth, especially young girls from northeast India, the Olympics medalist said she would help in training the upcoming athletes.
“People of Northeast India know very little about sports right now. I will work to give recognition to the small state of Manipur by training youth, especially young girls,” added the athlete.
Thus, the viral claim is not true as a morphed image was shared by several social media users claiming to show a banner thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s first medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Previously, another such claim was debunked where a morphed image of the popular news channel Aaj Tak went viral crediting PM Modi for all the winnings in the Tokyo Olympics.
