UAE get nod for Asian competition

The annual congress of the Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) has awarded the hosting of the 18th Asian Senior Women's and 37th Asian Senior Men's Weighlifting Championship to the UAE.

The two-day annual congress of the AWF concluded in Qinhuangdao city of China yesterday with all the members present unanimously voting for the UAE in hosting such a prestigious competition.

"It's such a thrilling moment to see the UAE getting the approval of the AWF," Colonel Abdul Kareem from the Emirates Body Building and Weightlifting Federation (EBBWF) told Gulf News from Qinhuangdao.

"I did not think it would have been so easy to bag the rights to host such a prestigious event in Dubai," said Colonel Abdul Kareem. "But when the time came for the voting on the bid, all members were uanimous in their choice of Dubai," he added.

The 16th Asian Senior Women's and 35th Asian Senior Men's Weightlifting Championships have been tentatively scheduled to held during the course of the 2005 Dubai Shopping Festival.

"Now that we've received the first approval, it is time to start working to ensure the success of the event," Colonel Abdul Kareem said.

The EBBWF official was accompanied by keen sports enthusiast, Suresh Pai as part of the two-member UAE delegation in China.

"We had done our homework well and all the voting members were convinced of our capability in hosting such a big event," Colonel Abdul Kareem added.

The AWF also voted to award the 2004 championships to Almaty in Kazakhstan in April next year.

The competition in the Kazakh capital will act as a qualifying event for Asian mean and women weightlifters for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

This year's championships in China have attracted 18 countries from all over Asia.
India will also host the first Afro-Asian games in Hyderabad next month.

Dr. Thomas Ajan, President of the International Weightlifting Federation and member of the International Olympic Committee was the guest of honour at the AWF's annual congress.

Competitions in the various weight categories are scheduled to commence from today. The first competition will be for women in the 48kg category. The two-member UAE delegation is scheduled to return after the Asian event.