Ahmedabad, May 12: The 2026 Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships, in which players from nearly 30 countries are taking part, were formally inaugurated in Gandhinagar on Tuesday.
The week-long continental event is being held from May 11 to 17 at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre.
It has drawn participation from athletes, coaches, technical officials and delegates from 29 Asian countries, including India, China, Japan and Sri Lanka, the organisers said.
According to the Indian Weightlifting Federation, around 179 athletes – 102 men and 77 women – are participating in the championships, which also serves as a qualifying event for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Sports Jayram Gamit said Gujarat has attracted global attention not only for development but also in the international sports sector.
“Such high-level international competitions held in Gujarat will prove to be very important for our local and Indian athletes. Such events will help in preparing the athletes as per international standards and increasing their confidence,” he said.
The minister said the Gujarat government has created world-class sports infrastructure in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Khelo India’ and ‘Khelo Bharat’.
He said the state currently has 39 sports schools and district-level centres of excellence that identify talent at the grassroots and provide modern training facilities. (PTI)
