GANDHINAGAR, INDIA – The Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) successfully conducted its Ordinary Congress on 12 May 2026 in Gandhinagar, India, alongside the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships.
The Congress brought together representatives of Member Federations from across Asia, participating both in person and online, to discuss important matters concerning governance, strategic development, technical progress, and the future direction of weightlifting within the continent.
The meeting was chaired by:
Mr. Mohammed Yousef Al Mana, President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation;
Mr. Mohammed Al Harbi, Secretary General of the AWF;
The Congress was also held in the presence of Mr. Mohammed Hassan Jalood, President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
Representing the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mr. Sahdev Yadav, President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, also participated in the Congress proceedings.
During the meeting, AWF leadership and Member Federations expressed their sincere appreciation to the Indian Weightlifting Federation and the Local Organizing Committee for the high level of organization, hospitality, and operational support provided throughout the championships and official meetings in Gandhinagar.
Reports and Strategic Presentations
Several important reports and committee presentations were delivered during the Congress, including:
Technical Committee Report;
Medical Committee Report;
Coaching and Research Committee Report;
Financial Report of the Federation.
Member Federations also received detailed updates regarding preparations for upcoming major continental events, including:
2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan;
2027 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Korea;
Asian Indoor Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The presentations focused on organizational planning, athlete development, technical standards, anti-doping measures, and long-term strategic objectives for the continued growth of Asian weightlifting.
South Asian Weightlifting Federation Elections
An important part of the Congress agenda included the announcement of the newly elected leadership of the South Asian Weightlifting Federation.
The following officials were elected:
Dr. Sahdev Yadav, President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation -President of the South Asian Weightlifting Federation;
Mr. Ram Krishna Shrestha, President of the Nepal Weightlifting Association -General Secretary;
Mr. Ibrahim Hameed, President of the Maldives Weightlifting Federation -1st Vice-President;
Mr. Sanka Ratnayake, President of the Sri Lanka Weightlifting Federation -Vice-President;
Mrs. Sabina Yadav, Joint Secretary of the Indian Weightlifting Federation -Chief Executive Officer (CEO);
Ms. Shahria Sultana of the Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation -Executive Board Member.
In addition, the Maldives Weightlifting Federation officially proposed organizing the first South Asian Weightlifting Championships, marking an important step toward strengthening regional cooperation and competitive development within South Asia.
Presentation for the 2026 AWF Electoral Congress
A significant agenda item concerned the hosting rights for the 2026 AWF Electoral Congress, scheduled to take place in December 2026.
Representatives from Qatar and Singapore delivered official presentations to the Executive Board regarding their candidatures to host the Electoral Congress.
Following discussions and evaluation of the presentations, the Executive Board decided to award the hosting rights for the 2026 AWF Electoral Congress to Qatar. At the same time, Singapore was confirmed as the reserve host in the event of unforeseen circumstances or emergency situations affecting the organization of the Congress.
The Board expressed its appreciation to both candidate nations for their professional presentations, commitment, and continued support for the development of Asian weightlifting.
Approval of Constitutional Amendments
One of the most significant outcomes of the Congress was the approval of the proposed amendments to the AWF Constitution.
Following the presentation by the Constitutional Working Group, all proposed amendments submitted by the participating Member Federations were unanimously approved, receiving 100% support from the Congress delegates.
In accordance with the applicable procedures and IWF By-Laws, the approved amendments will now be submitted to the Legal Department of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for review prior to their final ratification at an upcoming AWF Congress either in Tashkent, Uzbekistan or in any other upcoming Congress (according to IWF by-laws).
Strengthening the Future of Asian Weightlifting
The successful organization of the Ordinary Congress once again demonstrated the unity, professionalism, and continued institutional development of Asian weightlifting.
