Indian flag (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)
The Asian Weightlifting Championships, which were scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad from April 1 to 10, have been postponed due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Due to the situation affecting travel and safety in the Middle East and Gulf region, the organizers decided to postpone the tournament for more than a month.
The competition will now take place from 12 to 17 May 2026 instead.
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The decision was announced by the Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF), which said the change was made to ensure teams from different countries are able to travel and compete safely. Many flights and airspace were disrupted in parts of the Gulf region after the conflict began following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, making it difficult for some delegations to reach India.
The federation said in its explanation of the decision: “Due to the current situation affecting the Middle East and Gulf region, the 2026 Asian Senior Weightlifting Championship has been rescheduled.”The AFC added that the modified schedule was chosen to avoid travel problems and allow athletes and officials to participate without problems. “In order to ensure safe and smooth participation for all delegations, the competition will now be held from May 12 to 17, 2026,” the statement said.With the announcement of the new dates, organizers hope that the delay will give participating countries enough time to manage travel arrangements and attend the continental event without interruption.