India Set to Host the Inaugural World Weightlifting Championships in 2029

India to Host First World Weightlifting Championships

Ahmedabad has been selected to host the 2029 World Weightlifting Championships, marking a significant milestone as it will be the first time India organizes this esteemed global event. The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced Gujarat as the host during its Executive Board meeting held in Ningbo, China, as reported by Olympics.com. Additionally, Moscow, Russia, has been designated as the venue for the 2030 World Championships. Prishtina, Kosovo, will host the 2028 World Youth Championships, while Caracas, Venezuela, has been chosen for the 2028 World Junior Championships.

Hosting History and International Context

Earlier this year, Gujarat successfully hosted a significant international weightlifting competition, with the Asian Weightlifting Championships taking place in Gandhinagar. Furthermore, Ahmedabad is also preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The World Weightlifting Championships, organized by the IWF, have a rich history dating back to 1891. The women's competition was introduced in 1987, and the first combined event for both men and women occurred in 1991. The 2025 championships are set to be held in Forde, Norway, while the next edition will take place in Ningbo, China, from October 27 to November 8. Following that, Yerevan, Armenia, will host the 2027 championships, and Caracas, Venezuela, will take on the 2028 edition.

Indian Weightlifting Achievements

To date, Indian weightlifters have achieved remarkable success at the World Weightlifting Championships, securing a total of 18 medals, which include 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 during the 1989 event in Manchester. Lalita Polley also earned a bronze at that same competition. Karnam Malleswari followed suit by clinching consecutive world titles in the women's 54kg category in 1994 and 1995. More recently, Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu captured the world title in the 48kg category in 2017.