Asian Youth Games: Bahrain Ready, IWF Confident
The meeting, held with key figures from Bahrain's sports administration, reinforced a shared commitment to delivering a top-tier weightlifting competition—one that could shape the road to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
A Game Within the Games
Weightlifting will be one of the key disciplines at the AYG, and the focus during the discussions was clear: deliver a technically sound and globally respected event.
President of the Bahrain Weightlifting Federation and Bahrain Olympic Committee board member, Eshaq Ebrahim Eshaq, joined Yousif Duaij, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Vice-Chairman Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar in welcoming Al Shammari.
They reviewed the organisational structure, event regulations, and logistics—covering everything from weight categories to athlete eligibility. With the tournament doubling as a qualifier for the Youth Olympics, precision and excellence were high on the agenda.
IWF's Vote of Confidence
Al Shammari praised Bahrain's leadership in the sport and its infrastructure. He pointed to the success of last year's World Weightlifting Championships, which Bahrain hosted for the first time, as a key benchmark of the Kingdom's readiness.
His endorsement adds further credibility to the Games, which are being closely watched as a platform for emerging youth talent across Asia.
Eyes on October
With the Asian Youth Games approaching, the IWF's collaboration with Bahrain's organisers is expected to elevate standards and ensure a smooth, competitive, and internationally compliant event.
As a qualifier for the 2026 Youth Olympics, the weightlifting competition carries more than just regional significance. Bahrain now finds itself in a position to influence the sport's future at youth level, both continentally and globally.
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