Indore to host Khelo India Women's Weightlifting Zonal League
Indore is set to host the Asmita Khelo India Women's Weightlifting Zonal League. The event at the Shri Ram Gymnasium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh began on Sunday, June 17, and will end on Friday, June 21.
As per an estimate, around 30 weightlifters, across junior, senior, and youth bodyweight categories, are set to compete in the tournament.
Big names such as Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mirabai Chanu have been a part of the women's weightlifting league. Mirabai participated in the 2022 edition that was held at Nagrota Bhawan in Himachal Pradesh. She also qualified for her third Olympics and won gold at the 2022 women's weightlifting league. That event was also the first-ever edition of the Khelo India women's weightlifting tournament.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) weightlifter Bindyarani Devi has also participated in the Khelo India tournament. Moreover, several international medalists like Harshada Sharad Garud, Akanksha Vyavhere, and Soumya Dalvi have been part of the tournament over the years.
Khelo India Women's Weightlifting League tournaments are a part of larger calendar events
The Khelo India Women's Weightlifting League tournaments for the 2024-25 season are also part of a larger calendar of events throughout the year. After the zonal event in Indore, two more zonal events are scheduled for this year. They will take place in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, and Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
The zonal league is pivotal to discovering and developing talented weightlifters across the country.
Moreover, an inter-zonal event will take place in 2025 following the zonal rounds. The inter-zonal event will be held in Odisha. It is set to feature the top performers from each zone who will then compete against each other at a bigger level.
A multi-stage structure such as this provides athletes a platform to showcase their abilities and compete to gain recognition at the national level.
The Khelo India Women's Weightlifting League is organized by the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). It is conducted by the Indian Weightlifting Federation. This will provide the athletes with a much-needed platform to display their talent and potential as India's future weightlifting champions.
Speaking of the Indore tournament, the junior and senior weightlifters will contest across 10 weight categories from 45kg to +87kg. The youth women weightlifters are set to compete across the 10 weight categories that begin from 40kg and go up to +81kg.