Three International, Asian and Arab Weightlifting Championships to begin in Doha on Saturday

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December 20, 2025
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20-December-2025

Three International, Asian and Arab Weightlifting Championships to begin in Doha on Saturday

Doha: Three international, Arab and Asian weightlifting championships will kick off simultaneously in Doha on Saturday and will continue until 27 December.

The three championships comprise the 10th Qatar International Cup 2025, the Arab Weightlifting Championship for youth, juniors and seniors, and the West Asia Weightlifting Championship, held across the same age categories. The combined event reflects Qatar’s advanced standing on the map of global sports event organization and underscores its technical and organizational readiness to host major sporting events.

The technical meeting for the three championships was held this evening. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation, and President of the Qatari, Arab, Asian and Afro-Asian Weightlifting Federations. It was attended by Mohammed Hassan Jalood Al Shammari, President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF); Mohammed Al Harbi, President of the Saudi Weightlifting Federation; Jassim Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Secretary General of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation; Dr. Abdullah Al Jarmal, Vice President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation; in addition to representatives of the participating delegations, organizing committees and officiating bodies.

In his opening remarks, Al Mana welcomed the participating delegations and wished them success in the three championships. The meeting discussed the technical regulations, competition schedule and organizational rules, while emphasizing the application of the highest international standards in officiating and safety to ensure the smooth and professional conduct of the competitions.

The meeting also addressed weigh-in and classification procedures, stressing the importance of adherence to schedules and coordination between technical and administrative teams. In addition, 36 international referees from the elite ranks of the International Weightlifting Federation were approved to officiate the competitions, ensuring the precise application of technical rules and equal opportunities for all participants.

The three championships are being held with direct support from the Qatar Olympic Committee and are considered among the most important sporting events on Qatar’s 2025 calendar. They have been prepared in accordance with the highest international standards and will feature elite weightlifters from around the world, raising the level of competition and offering fans the opportunity to witness high technical standards.

The three events are witnessing wide participation, with the Qatar Cup attracting around 25 countries from across the world, the Arab Championship featuring 19 countries, and the West Asia Championship welcoming 12 countries.

The number of participating male and female athletes stands at approximately 252 lifters from various age groups. Most delegations are fielding both men’s and women’s teams, with the exception of a few countries participating in the men’s competitions only.

The competitions will feature a number of world-class champions, led by Qatari Olympic champion Fares Ibrahim, gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; Iranian Olympic lifter Kianoush Rostami, gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games; and Syrian lifter Man Asaad, bronze medallist at the same edition.

The Qatar national weightlifting team is represented in the championships by six male and female lifters competing in six different weight categories: Fares Ibrahim, Fares Ahmed Jaber, Nader Mohammed Bakr, Abdullah Al Hashemi, Wesal Yakhlef, and Sara Al Qassibi.

The team is aiming to compete strongly for medals, with the championships also serving as an important opportunity to prepare and equip athletes for the upcoming Olympic qualification events, particularly those leading to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, in addition to preparations for the Qatar Cup 2026.

On the sidelines of the three championships—the 10th Qatar International Cup 2025, the Arab Championship for youth, juniors and seniors, and the West Asia Championship for the same age groups—a refresher refereeing course will be organized under the supervision of the International Weightlifting Federation, in addition to an anti-doping education course aimed at developing human resources and promoting the values of integrity and fair play in sport.

The organizing committee of the three championships is placing particular focus on the anti-doping committee, one of the most active committees, which will conduct more than 50 random sample tests daily. Educational materials will also be displayed in training and competition venues to highlight the dangers of doping and its negative impact on athletes’ health.

Meanwhile, Doha will host tomorrow, Saturday, the electoral meeting of the Arab Weightlifting Federation, on the sidelines of the three major championships. The meeting comes as part of plans to enhance institutional work and develop weightlifting at the Arab level. It will witness the election of new members to the federation’s board, as well as discussions on a number of issues related to organizing championships, supporting athletes, and developing technical and administrative cadres.

The Arab Federation’s electoral meeting will be followed by another electoral meeting for the West Asia Weightlifting Federation, scheduled for 22 December, further reinforcing Doha’s position as a comprehensive regional hub for the management and development of the sport of weightlifting.

Commenting on the three championships, Mohammed Hassan Jalood Al Shammari, President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), praised the significant efforts made by the State of Qatar to develop weightlifting in recent years, noting the extensive work carried out by the Qatar Weightlifting Federation to ensure the successful organization of the three events.

Al Shammari said in a press statement that the great success of previous championships hosted by Doha in recent years played a major role in the decision to once again select Doha to host the West Asia Championship and the Arab Championship, alongside the Qatar International Cup. He also commended the new sports equipment provided by the organizing committee.

He stressed that this reflects the committee’s commitment to the comfort and safety of all participants, which will contribute to delivering high technical standards throughout the days of competition.