The International Weightlifting Federation has awarded the 2029 Senior World Weightlifting Championships to Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The decision was taken at the IWF Executive Board meeting in Ningbo, China, on 25 October 2026. It will be the first time India hosts the senior World Championships.
What Did the IWF Announce in Ningbo?
The IWF Executive Board met in Ningbo, China, on 25 October 2026 and finalised hosts for four future World Championships together. The move was aimed at giving stability to the international calendar and giving host cities more time to prepare.
Ahmedabad won the hosting rights for the 2029 Senior World Weightlifting Championships after competing with bids from Russia and Venezuela. India had earlier hosted the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, and officials pointed to that experience while welcoming the new decision. IWF General Secretary Jose Quinones said all bids were excellent and expressed confidence that each championship would be a success.
Where Do Yerevan, Prishtina, Caracas and Moscow Fit In?
The Ningbo meeting did not decide Ahmedabad alone. The IWF awarded four championships covering youth, junior and senior levels between 2028 and 2030.
| Edition | Host City and Country | Year |
|---|---|---|
| World Youth Championships | Prishtina, Kosovo | 2028 |
| World Junior Championships | Caracas, Venezuela | 2028 |
| Senior World Championships | Ahmedabad, India | 2029 |
| Senior World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 2030 |
Yerevan in Armenia had already been named earlier as host of the 2027 Senior World Championships. That decision was taken by the IWF Executive Board in Phuket, Thailand, in March 2024. Yerevan had successfully hosted the 2023 European Championships.
The IWF noted that Kosovo, Venezuela and India will organise an IWF world event for the first time. The calendar therefore moves across three continents in successive years, from Ningbo in China to Yerevan in Europe, and then to the Americas and Asia.
What Is the IWF and How Does It Run World Weightlifting?
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) is the world governing body for weightlifting. IWF stands for International Weightlifting Federation. It was founded on 10 June 1905 in Duisburg in Germany and is one of the oldest international sports federations. The IWF is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and has 193 member federations. It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the sole controlling body for international weightlifting.
The IWF is led by President Mohammed Jalood of Iraq, who took charge in June 2022, and General Secretary Jose Quinones. The IWF Executive Board takes major decisions such as host selection, while the IWF Congress approves constitutional and policy changes.
In India, the sport is governed by the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF). The IWLF was formed in 1935 and is based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It is affiliated to the Indian Olympic Association, the Asian Weightlifting Federation and the IWF. The current IWLF president is Sahdev Yadav.
How Does a Weightlifting Competition Work?
A weightlifting competition has two lifts. The snatch comes first, followed by the clean and jerk. In the snatch, the lifter raises the barbell from the floor to above the head in one continuous motion. In the clean and jerk, the lifter first brings the bar to the shoulders and pauses, and then pushes it overhead.
Each lifter gets three attempts in the snatch and three attempts in the clean and jerk. The best successful snatch and the best successful clean and jerk are added to give the Total. The lifter with the highest Total in a bodyweight category wins. If Totals are equal, the lighter lifter is placed higher.
The IWF currently recognises eight bodyweight categories each for senior men and senior women at World Championships level:
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| 60 kg | 48 kg |
| 65 kg | 53 kg |
| 71 kg | 58 kg |
| 79 kg | 63 kg |
| 88 kg | 69 kg |
| 94 kg | 77 kg |
| 110 kg | 86 kg |
| More than 110 kg | More than 86 kg |
The Olympic programme uses fewer categories. For the Los Angeles 2028 Games, six categories each have been approved for men and women. Weightlifting has been part of the Olympic Games since the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896, while women first competed at Sydney 2000.
Is Weightlifting Different From Powerlifting?
Weightlifting and powerlifting are not the same sport. Weightlifting is also called Olympic weightlifting. It is the only form of lifting weight included in the Olympic Games. Powerlifting is a separate strength sport and is not part of the Olympic programme.
| Feature | Weightlifting | Powerlifting |
|---|---|---|
| Competition lifts | Snatch and clean and jerk | Squat, bench press and deadlift |
| Olympic status | Olympic sport since 1896 | Not an Olympic sport |
| Governing body | International Weightlifting Federation | International Powerlifting Federation |
| Winning score | Best Total from two lifts | Best Total from three lifts |
Weightlifting tests speed, balance and explosive power to lift the bar overhead. Powerlifting tests maximum strength in three different movements, including the deadlift exercise often seen in gym training.
Why Ahmedabad 2029 Matters for India
Ahmedabad 2029 will be the first senior World Championships on Indian soil. India has a strong record at the event without ever hosting it. Indian lifters have won 18 medals at the World Weightlifting Championships, including three gold medals won by Karnam Malleswari and Mirabai Chanu.
Malleswari won bronze at Sydney 2000 and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. Mirabai Chanu won silver at Tokyo 2020 in the 49 kg category, won the World title in 2017, and added World silver medals in 2022 and 2025. Ahmedabad also hosted the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in August 2025, where India fielded 44 lifters and set several new Commonwealth records.
The timing adds to the importance. Ahmedabad will also host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the centenary edition of the Games, after being formally awarded the hosting rights in November 2025. Weightlifting is part of the core sports programme for those Games. The 2029 Worlds will therefore test venues, officials and logistics one year before the larger multi sport event, and strengthen Ahmedabad’s claim as a centre for major international championships.
Key Takeaways
- Ahmedabad will host the 2029 Senior World Weightlifting Championships, the first senior Worlds in India.
- The decision was taken at the IWF Executive Board meeting in Ningbo, China, on 25 October 2026.
- Yerevan, Armenia, will host the 2027 senior Worlds, while Prishtina, Kosovo, and Caracas, Venezuela, will host the 2028 youth and junior Worlds.
- Moscow, Russia, will host the 2030 senior Worlds, after the 2029 edition in India.
- The International Weightlifting Federation, founded in 1905 and based in Lausanne, governs world weightlifting with 193 members.
