As the landscape of international weightlifting braces for a transformative shift in bodyweight categories, India is entering the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, China, with a refreshed squad that reflects this ongoing evolution.
The prestigious continental competition, scheduled from May 9 to 15, will not feature many of India’s elite names, including Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu.
Instead, two promising lifters — Seram Nirupama Devi and Dilbag Singh — will carry the Indian challenge.
This marks a crucial moment for Indian weightlifting. With the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) set to implement revised weight categories from June 1, 2025, the current championships serve as a transitional ground for athletes and national federations worldwide.
India, aiming to recalibrate its elite squad for upcoming events like the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, is offering its younger talent a chance to shine on the big stage.
India’s Squad for the 2025 Asian Championships
- Women’s 64kg: Seram Nirupama Devi
- Men’s 96kg: Dilbag Singh
Both lifters represent the new breed of Indian weightlifters poised to step up. Seram Nirupama Devi, a former Asian Youth Championship medallist and National Games champion, has shown strong progression in domestic circuits.
Competing in the women’s 64kg category, she will face a competitive field that includes seasoned Asian lifters. Her entry to the continental stage not only offers her international exposure but also aligns with India’s broader strategy of grooming youth lifters ahead of the new weight divisions.
Dilbag Singh, meanwhile, brings momentum into the men’s 96kg event, having clinched gold at the National Games earlier this year. Known for his powerful clean and jerk, he’s entering one of the traditionally deep and physically intense categories.
This will be his first major international appearance at the senior level, and it’s a crucial opportunity for him to gauge his readiness for future multi-sport events.
Absence of Seniors: Strategic or Forced?
India’s top lifters, including Mirabai Chanu, are conspicuously absent from the Jiangshan meet. But this is less a case of withdrawal and more a strategic choice.
With the IWF restructuring weight classes, lifters like Chanu are now required to shift from familiar categories — in her case, from 49kg to the reinstated 48kg division. Such transitions involve meticulous strength and conditioning adjustments to maintain performance while meeting new weight parameters.
Speaking about the changes, Indian head coach Vijay Sharma had earlier noted that senior athletes would likely skip immediate selection trials and competitions to focus on adapting to these new divisions and target long-term goals — namely, podium finishes at the 2026 Asian and Commonwealth Games.
The decision is also backed by practical planning. The selection trials for the Asian and World Youth & Junior Championships, held at SAI’s National Centre of Excellence in Patiala on March 10, saw limited senior participation, as most core group athletes opted to remain in their respective training camps — notably, the Weightlifting Warriors Academy in Modinagar, where Chanu and others are preparing.
New Weight Categories: A Global Shake-Up
The IWF’s revised bodyweight categories are expected to streamline competition and enhance fairness across international events. For senior and junior men, the categories will now be: 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, 88kg, 98kg, 110kg, and +110kg.
For senior and junior women, the new categories are: 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, and +86kg. Youth categories also see similar restructuring.
This overhaul has immediate implications for elite lifters worldwide. Indian athletes like Ajith N, who is transitioning from 73kg to 71kg, have already begun adjusting training regimes.
For Chanu, the shift back to 48kg could prove to be an opportunity, as she had competed in that division earlier in her career before the Olympic-standard 49kg category was introduced.
What This Means for Indian Weightlifting
The 2025 Asian Championships is not just about medals — it is a strategic stepping stone. With big names stepping aside temporarily, Seram Nirupama Devi and Dilbag Singh represent India’s ambition to deepen its talent pool.
Their performance in Jiangshan will offer valuable insights into India’s bench strength and guide preparations for the redefined international circuit post-June 2025.
Additionally, the Championships offer a preview of how weightlifting competitions will shape up in the new category era. For national federations, this is the time to identify which athletes adapt best to the changes — a factor that will influence selections for the upcoming World Championships and multi-sport events in 2026.
As the competition in Jiangshan begins, the spotlight will be on Nirupama and Dilbag. Their journey marks not just a personal milestone but a larger chapter in India’s weightlifting transition. Amidst a shifting global framework, India is wisely choosing to invest in youth — a strategy that could pay rich dividends in the near future.
