Preparations are complete for the start of the World University Weightlifting Championships, Doha 2026
Doha, September 6 (QNA) – The Organizing Committee of the World University Weightlifting Championships – Doha 2026 today announced the completion of preparations for the tenth edition of the championships, which starts tomorrow, Tuesday and will continue until September 12, with around 116 athletes participating.
This happened at a press conference held at the Student Forum Hall of the University City, with the participation of His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaim, President of the Qatar University Sports Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Championship, Secretary General of the Qatar University Sports Federation and Vice President of the Organizing Committee of Mar Zucut International Committee, Mr. Rashid Saeed Adiba. Sports (FISU).
His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaim emphasized that hosting the World Weightlifting Championships embodies the strong commitment of the State of Qatar to support university sports and strengthen its presence and status on the international stage.
Al Nuaimi welcomed the participating delegations from different countries of the world and emphasized that the mission of the tournament goes beyond the boundaries of sports competition, embodies the spirit of university sports and the values of fair competition, and will strengthen communication, understanding and friendship among young people of different cultures.
He noted that the tournament embodies the core values of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), which include excellence, teamwork, innovation, sportsmanship and integrity. These values are integrated with the principles on which the Qatar University Sports Federation is founded, thereby enhancing its mission to serve and develop university sports.
On his part, the Secretary General of Qatar University Sports Federation and Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Rashid Saeed Adaiba, confirmed the readiness to host the tournament and noted that the preparations were based on an integrated organizational system based on the highest international standards.
According to him, the tenth competitions are held under the umbrella of the International Federation of University Sports (FISU), in the hall of the student forum of the university, and the training sessions are held in the Ezdan Palace Hotel.
21 countries participate in the tournament: Qatar, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, Spain, Finland, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Iraq, South Korea, Moldova, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Sri Lanka, Slovakia, Chinese Taipei and the United States of America.
The competitions include eight weight categories for men: 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 110 and over 110 kilograms, and for women: 49, 53, 57, 61, 69, 77, 86 and over 86 kilograms, in Lirk and Nach.
Doha’s hosting of this edition is of particular significance as it marks the return of the World University Weightlifting Championships to the international agenda after a hiatus since 2018, thus re-invigorating Doha’s presence on the global university sports scene.
The tournament will also be the second World Cup organized by the Qatar University Sports Federation since its official inception in 2023, after hosting the 3×3 University Basketball Championship.
The tournament carries a distinctive Qatari identity with its mascot, ‘Rimal’, representing Qatar’s environment, its authentic heritage and the spirit of welcoming visitors to Doha, while the visual logo reflects the values of strength, balance and excellence inspired by the sport of weightlifting and the Qatari identity.
