SAI invests ₹1.95 crore in weightlifters for 2026 Games push
Synopsis
SAI is betting ₹1.95 crore on a two-track weightlifting push: live competition at the Asian Championships this month, and dual 122-day elite camps running through August. The strategy signals confidence that India's current lifter cohort can medal at the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games — if execution and consistency hold.
Key Takeaways
SAI has committed ₹1.95 crore combined investment for weightlifting support. ₹70.45 lakh sanctioned for India's participation in the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar (through 17 May ) with 22 athletes .
Two elite national coaching camps approved from 1 April to 31 August at Modinagar ( ₹60.23 lakh ) and NSNIS Patiala ( ₹64.75 lakh ).
Each camp hosts 10 athletes focused on 2026 Commonwealth Games and 2026 Asian Games qualification.
Khelo India Athletes competing include Bedabarat Bharali , Parv Chaudhary , Gyaneshwari Yadav , Sanjana , and Maibam Martina Devi , among others.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has intensified support for Indian weightlifting with a combined investment of nearly ₹1.95 crore towards international competition exposure and extended national coaching camps, as the country's lifters compete at the ongoing Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar through 17 May.
The government sanctioned approximately ₹70.45 lakh for India's participation in the continental event, fielding an initial contingent of 22 athletes, six coaches, five support staff, and three referees. The championships serve as a crucial benchmark competition ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and 2026 Asian Games.
Athletes in the pipeline
Khelo India Athletes competing in Gandhinagar include Bedabarat Bharali (79kg), Parv Chaudhary (94kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Sanjana (77kg), Maibam Martina Devi (+86kg), Charu Pesi (65kg), T Madhavan (71kg), Valluri Ajaya Babu (79kg), Abhishek Nipane (88kg), Komal Kohar (48kg), and Koyel Bar (53kg).
Dual elite camps launched
Parallel to competition support, SAI has approved two elite national coaching camps running from 1 April to 31 August at Weightlifting Warriors, Modinagar, and the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala. The 122-day camps, backed with ₹60.23 lakh and ₹64.75 lakh respectively, target preparation of senior men and women lifters for major international events and qualification pathways linked to the Commonwealth and Asian Games cycle.
Training structure and support
Ten athletes each are part of the two camps organised through SAI Lucknow and SAI NSNIS Patiala until end-August. The twin-camp model ensures continuous training, recovery management, and technical monitoring over an extended period, while providing access to specialised coaching and sports science support. The centralised system is designed to improve consistency and medal readiness at the international level.
Why the timing matters
This investment cycle underscores SAI's multi-year preparation strategy for the 2026 Games. Weightlifting has historically been among India's stronger medal-winning disciplines at major Games, and the extended camps reflect confidence in the current cohort's potential. The Asian Championships serve both as a testing ground and a qualifier for subsequent continental and global events.
Point of View
And the extended camps suggest confidence in the current cohort. The real test will be whether the 122-day structure delivers measurable improvements in consistency and international rankings — metrics that have often been promised but inconsistently tracked in past cycles.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has SAI invested in weightlifting support?
SAI has committed a combined ₹1.95 crore towards international competition exposure and long-duration coaching camps. This includes ₹70.45 lakh for the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships and ₹60.23 lakh and ₹64.75 lakh for the two elite coaching camps at Modinagar and NSNIS Patiala respectively.
Which athletes are competing at the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar?
India's contingent of 22 athletes includes Khelo India Athletes such as Bedabarat Bharali (79kg), Parv Chaudhary (94kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Sanjana (77kg), Maibam Martina Devi (+86kg), Charu Pesi (65kg), T Madhavan (71kg), Valluri Ajaya Babu (79kg), Abhishek Nipane (88kg), Komal Kohar (48kg), and Koyel Bar (53kg).
When are the elite coaching camps running?
The two elite national coaching camps are running from 1 April to 31 August at Weightlifting Warriors, Modinagar, and NSNIS Patiala. Each camp is a 122-day program hosting 10 athletes focused on preparation for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Why is SAI focusing on weightlifting ahead of the 2026 Games?
Weightlifting has historically been one of India's stronger medal-winning disciplines at major Games. The extended coaching camps and competition support reflect SAI's confidence in the current cohort's potential and signal a multi-year preparation strategy for the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games.
