Her interest in sports began when she accompanied her father to watch a football match during the 1999 National Games hosted in Manipur.

[2] Chanu began playing hockey at the stadium the age of eleven, having been encouraged by her uncle to pick up the sport.

[4][5] Chanu made her international debut at the 2008 Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup, held in Kuala Lumpur, where India won a bronze medal.

[6] Later, she made her debut in the senior national team, and was part of the squad that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games held at Incheon.

Chanu was part of the team that reached the semifinals of the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League held at Antwerp, Belgium.