The 2026 Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships took place from May 11 to May 17, 2026, at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.

This marked only the second time India hosted the prestigious continental meet, with the previous instance being in New Delhi back in 1982. The event featured over 170 elite athletes from nearly 30 nations and served as a crucial qualifying event for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Highlights & Major Achievements

The tournament witnessed exceptional performances, featuring several Olympic champions and multi-time world medallists establishing new benchmarks.

World Records Broken: The championships saw a flurry of new world records, particularly from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Chinese contingents. Notably, North Korea’s Pang Un-chol (60kg), Ri Won-ju(71kg), Ri Ryong-hyon (79kg), and Ro Kwang-ryol (88kg) shattered world records in their respective weight classes.

China’s Dominance: Paris 2024 Olympic champion Liu Huanhua comfortably captured the gold medal in the men’s 110kg category total with a combined lift of 420kg. He Yueji (65kg) also had a stellar outing, breaking the world record in the total with a 329kg lift.

Super Heavyweights: In the men’s +110kg division, Bahrain’s two-time Olympic medallist Gor Minasyan won the overall gold with a total lift of 457kg, while Iran’s Alireza Yousefi took the clean and jerk gold with a world-record lift of 261kg.

Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026
Historic Records and Powerhouse Performances
The competition burst onto the scene on day one with stunning results. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) made headlines right out of the gate with Pang Un Chol setting a new world record in the Men’s 60kg division. Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medallist Gor Minasyan of Bahrain put on a masterclass in the super-heavyweight category, securing the gold with an effortless 457kg total lift.
Team Standings
China lived up to its weightlifting legacy by completely dominating the leaderboards. The Chinese squad secured first place in both the men’s and women’s team standings, proving once again why they are the continental benchmark.
  • Women’s Team Rankings: 1. China (578 pts), 2. Chinese Taipei (491 pts), 3. India (487 pts)
  • Men’s Team Rankings: China took first, with India managing an impressive fifth-place finish overall.
Team India’s Triumphant Campaign
Stepping up to host the championships for only the second time (previously held in New Delhi in 1982), the Indian contingent exceeded expectations by bagging 10 medals (1 silver, 9 bronze). This marks a massive bounce-back from the previous edition in Jiangshan, where the team returned empty-handed.

Host Nation Performance: India

The 16-member Indian contingent enjoyed a productive campaign on home soil, finishing with a total of 10 medals (1 silver and 9 bronze). Since the tournament awards distinct medals for Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and the Overall Total, several lifters walked away with multiple podium finishes:

Medal Table

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