Ahmedabad to Host 2029 World Weightlifting Championships: A Historic First for India

In a groundbreaking announcement, Ahmedabad has been selected to host the 2029 World Weightlifting Championships, marking a historic first for India. This prestigious event, confirmed by the International Weightlifting Federation during a recent meeting in China, highlights India's growing prominence in the global sports arena. Alongside this, other cities have been designated for future championships, including Moscow for 2030 and Prishtina for the 2028 World Youth Championships. Indian weightlifters have a rich legacy in this sport, with numerous medals won at past championships. Read on to discover more about this exciting development and India's journey in weightlifting.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 25, 2026, 23:45 IST

Ahmedabad Secures Hosting Rights for World Weightlifting Championships

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has officially been chosen to host the 2029 World Weightlifting Championships, marking a significant milestone as it will be the first time India organizes this esteemed global competition.

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced Gujarat's selection during its Executive Board meeting held in Ningbo, China, as reported by a leading sports news outlet.

Additionally, Moscow, Russia, has been designated as the host city for the 2030 World Championships.

In other announcements, Prishtina, Kosovo, will host the 2028 World Youth Championships, while Caracas, Venezuela, is set to stage the 2028 World Junior Championships.

Earlier this year, Gujarat successfully hosted the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, and the city is also preparing for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

The World Weightlifting Championships, organized by the IWF, have a rich history, having first taken place in 1891. The women's competition was introduced in 1987, and the first combined event for both genders occurred in 1991.

The 2025 championships are scheduled for Forde, Norway, while the next edition will be held in Ningbo, China, from October 27 to November 8.

Yerevan, Armenia, is set to host the 2027 World Weightlifting Championships, and Caracas, Venezuela, will also host the 2028 edition.

Indian athletes have achieved remarkable success at the World Weightlifting Championships, securing a total of 18 medals, including three gold, ten silver, and five bronze.

Kunjarani Devi made history as the first Indian to earn a medal at these championships, winning silver in the women's 44kg category in 1989 in Manchester, with Lalita Polley also earning a bronze at the same event.

Karnam Malleswari followed with consecutive world titles in the women's 54kg category in 1994 and 1995. More recently, Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu claimed the world title in the 48kg category in 2017.