Asian Masters Weightlifting Championship Opens in Islamabad Today, 20 to 25 October, With 21 Countries

The 2nd Asian Masters Weightlifting Championship and the World Masters Grand Prix 2026 open today, Tuesday 20 October, at the Liaquat Gymnasium in the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad. The event runs for six days, to 25 October, with about 250 lifters from 21 countries expected, organisers said. The opening ceremony was set for 12:30 pm.

The details come from the organisers, the Pakistan Masters Weightlifting Association (PMWA), as reported on 19 October. We could not find a page on the PMWA, Pakistan Sports Board or Asian federation websites confirming the October dates, so the dates and numbers below are as reported. What we could check is that the event was first planned for February 2026.

The championship runs from 20 to 25 October in Islamabad

Two competitions share one venue and one week. The Asian Masters Championship is for lifters from Asia, and the World Masters Grand Prix is open more widely, which is why countries such as the United Kingdom, Serbia and Ecuador are on the list. Both are at the Liaquat Gymnasium.

The event carries the "Marka-e-Haq" name in its full title. The PMWA president, Arshad Khan, called hosting it "a proud moment for Pakistan" and said he hoped it would bring more international events to the country.

The event was first planned for 6 to 12 February 2026

A registration notice from the Chinese Taipei Weightlifting Association gave the dates as 6 to 12 February 2026 in Islamabad. It set an initial registration deadline of 25 November. So the October dates are a move of about eight months from the original plan.

We found no official reason for the change. Neither the organisers' statement nor any federation page we read explains it. If you entered for February and did not hear about the new dates, contact the PMWA or your own national federation before travelling.

Lifters from 21 countries are expected in Islamabad

The organisers listed 21 countries. Most are Asian, from Iran and Saudi Arabia to Nepal and Singapore. The rest come from Europe, Africa and South America, which is what the World Masters Grand Prix label adds to an Asian event.

India's name on the list stands out, given how rarely Indian teams compete in Pakistan. We could not confirm whether any Indian lifter has arrived. The list is of countries expected, not of lifters checked in.

Masters weightlifting is for older lifters, grouped by age

Masters weightlifting is the same sport as Olympic weightlifting, the snatch and the clean and jerk, but for lifters past the usual senior age. They compete in age groups as well as bodyweight classes, so a 60-year-old lifts against other lifters of the same age.

Some masters lifters are former national champions. Others took up the sport late in life. Because lifters of many ages compete in one hall, results are often also compared across ages using an age factor.

Here is what the week looks like, as far as the organisers have said:

1. Tuesday 20 October: opening ceremony at 12:30 pm, Liaquat Gymnasium.
2. 20 to 25 October: competition across age groups and weight classes.
3. Medals for both the Asian Masters Championship and the World Masters Grand Prix.
4. Sunday 25 October: the last day of competition.

Senior weightlifting officials are expected to attend

The organisers named several officials who were likely to attend. They include the Asian Weightlifting Federation president, Al Mana Mohamed Yousef, and its general secretary, Mohammed Ahmed Al Harbi of Saudi Arabia. Visits like these can help decide where future events go.

The PMWA president linked the event to sports tourism, hotels and the wider "sports economy". That is the case Pakistan has been making for other events this season too. Islamabad also hosts the Asian Team Squash Championships from 3 to 7 November, which we set out in our guide to the squash championships in Islamabad.

Money for federations comes partly from the Pakistan Sports Board, whose grants are listed in our page on PSB grants to sports federations. We do not know how much, if anything, the PSB gave towards this event.

Common questions

Where is the Asian Masters Weightlifting Championship 2026?

At the Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, the organisers said.

What are the dates of the Asian Masters Weightlifting Championship?

20 to 25 October 2026, as reported. It was first planned for 6 to 12 February 2026.

How many countries are taking part?

21, including Pakistan, with about 250 lifters expected, according to the organisers.

Who is organising the event?

The Pakistan Masters Weightlifting Association, working with the Pakistan Sports Board.

Can the public watch the weightlifting in Islamabad?

The organisers have not said. We found no ticket or entry notice when we checked on 20 October 2026.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

On 20 October 2026 we read the organisers' statement as reported on 19 October, and the Chinese Taipei Weightlifting Association's registration notice giving the February dates. We also checked the Pakistan Sports Board website, whose weightlifting calendar file is an image we could not read as text. We could not confirm the October dates on any official page, the reason for the move, the number of lifters who arrived, the competition schedule by day, or public entry.