India, Sept. 5 -- Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu was 18 (2013) when she first met coach Vijay Sharma at a junior camp in Patiala. A year later, they began training together. Today, after an Olympic silver and three Commonwealth Games golds, Chanu says she is still his student first. "Behind all these medals, fame and love, the one thing that can never change is that main aaj bhi sabse pehle apne Vijay sir ki student hun... No matter how successful I become, I will always be my sir's Mira and never Mirabai Chanu," says the 32-year-old.

For her, the bond goes beyond sport. "Main apne sir ki favourite student banna chahti hoon. I think I am quite up in that list already" she laughs, adding, "Be it a mistake, a personal thought, nothing related ...