New Delhi: The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) has officially confirmed that the Asian Weightlifting Championship will be held in Ahmedabad from April 1 to 10, 2026. The hosting rights were awarded to India by the Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) during its annual congress held last year.

As per agency report, IWLF President Sahdev Yadav stated that the dates for the championship have now been finalized. This edition of the tournament will be the first to be conducted under the new weight categories introduced by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

Initially, the event was scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar, but the venue was later shifted to Ahmedabad. The championship is expected to attract top weightlifters from across the continent and will mark a significant milestone for India in organizing a major international event under the new global norms.

Jaipur, February 19 – A tragic accident occurred in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, where junior national gold medalist powerlifter Yashtika Acharya lost her life during a training session on Tuesday evening. The 17-year-old athlete was practicing at a local gym when a 270 kg barbell fell on her neck, causing fatal injuries.

According to Station House Officer Vikram Tiwari, Yashtika was undergoing weightlifting training when the heavy barbell slipped and crushed her neck, leading to an instant fatal injury. Despite immediate medical attention, she was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The accident took place while Yashtika’s coach was supervising her practice. Reports indicate that the coach also sustained minor injuries during the incident. The family has not filed any official complaint, and after a post-mortem examination, Yashtika’s body was handed over to her relatives.

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident to determine if any safety lapses contributed to the incident.