New Delhi, 27 October (H.S.): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has welcomed the decision to award Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the hosting rights for the 2029 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships, marking the first time that India will stage the prestigious global weightlifting competition.

The IWF confirmed Ahmedabad as the host city following a meeting of its Executive Board in Ningbo, China, on October 25. The announcement marks another significant milestone for India’s international sporting calendar.

The year has already been an important one for weightlifting in Gujarat, with Gandhinagar hosting the Asian Weightlifting Championships in 2026. Ahmedabad is also scheduled to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, making the 2029 IWF World Championships another major opportunity for India to welcome elite athletes and sports enthusiasts from across the world.

The event will bring one of the sport’s premier international competitions to Indian audiences for the first time, further strengthening the country’s profile as a destination for major sporting events.

IOA President Dr PT Usha described Ahmedabad’s selection as a proud moment for Indian sport and another opportunity for the country to welcome the global sporting community.

“Indian weightlifting has produced outstanding champions, including Olympic medallist and world champion Mirabai Chanu, whose achievements have inspired countless people across the country. Bringing the world’s finest weightlifters to India will give a new generation the opportunity to watch them compete on home soil,” she said.

Usha expressed hope that hosting the championship would encourage more young Indians to take up weightlifting and aspire to compete at the highest level.

Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) President Sahdev Yadav said hosting the IWF World Championships in India for the first time would represent a major milestone for the sport in the country.

“India has a proud record at this championship, having won 18 medals, including three world titles. The 2029 edition will give us an opportunity to build on this legacy, strengthen the sport in India and provide our athletes with the experience of competing at the highest level in front of a home crowd. We look forward to welcoming the international weightlifting community to Ahmedabad,” Yadav said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar