Sahdev Yadav has been elected as the President of the South Asian Weightlifting Federation unanimously. This significant administrative development occurred during the federation’s election meeting in Ahmedabad on May 12. Yadav, who currently leads the Indian Weightlifting Federation, was selected unopposed, showcasing member nations’ trust in his leadership and contributions to the sport’s progress.
Yadav also holds various international positions, including Treasurer of the Indian Olympic Association, Vice-President of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation, and Assistant to the President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation. Following his election, Yadav expressed gratitude to member nations and officials for their support. He emphasized that his focus during his term would be on enhancing regional cooperation, improving athlete development programs, raising coaching standards, upgrading infrastructure, and providing greater international exposure for South Asian athletes.
The election meeting also confirmed key appointments within the federation. Ram Krishna Sreshtha, President of the Nepal Weightlifting Federation, was elected as the General Secretary. Ibrahim Hameed, President of the Maldives Weightlifting Federation, and Sanka Ratnayake, President of the Sri Lanka Weightlifting Federation, were chosen as Vice-Presidents. Sabina Yadav, Joint Secretary of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, while Shahria Sultana from the Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation became an Executive Board Member.
The newly elected team is set to collaborate on development projects and enhance coordination among member nations. The Asian Weightlifting Federation welcomed these appointments and congratulated all the elected office-bearers. They expressed confidence that the new leadership would play a vital role in the ongoing development and promotion of weightlifting in the region.
India’s participation in the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships 2026 in Gandhinagar saw Ajith Narayana securing two bronze medals in the men’s 71 kg category on Day 4 of the competition. Narayana’s total lift of 314 kg, including a best clean and jerk of 174 kg, earned him the third position overall. The gold medal was won by Won Ju Ri from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with a total of 351 kg, while China’s Jian Chen took the silver with 335 kg. The men’s 71 kg category concluded on Day 4, with competitions ongoing in other weight divisions. The Indian Weightlifting Federation highlighted Narayana’s performance as a significant contribution to the national team’s campaign at the championships.
