Indian Weightlifting Camp in Full Swing at NIS Patiala Ahead of Asian Championships, with CWG and Asian Games 2026 Spots on the Line

New Delhi, April 28: India's elite weightlifters are currently in the middle of an intensive national coaching camp at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, as preparations gather pace for a crucial international season. With the Asian Championships in Gandhinagar just weeks away, the camp has become the focal point of India's qualification push for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Running from April through August, the long-duration camp is designed to provide athletes with a structured high-performance environment, allowing them to build consistency, refine technique, and peak at the right time. Conducted at one of India's premier training centres, the camp brings together a mix of experienced campaigners

and promising youngsters across weight categories.

The camp is backed by a full support system, including coaching, physiotherapy and recovery services, with a strong focus on athlete conditioning. It will operate under a structured framework with regular monitoring, central oversight, and periodic performance reviews to track progress.

The core group of 10 lifters in the camp includes Abhishek Suresh Nipane (88kg), Dilbag Singh (94kg), Parv Chaudhary (94kg), Harcharan Singh (110kg), Komal Kohar (48kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), S. Bindyarani Devi (58kg), Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Sanjana (77kg), and Vanshita Verma (86kg).

A majority of the lifters in the camp are part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group or the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), ensuring continued financial support, foreign exposure and high-performance training as India builds towards the 2026 cycle.

Speaking to myKhel over phone, national coach Vijay Sharma outlined the immediate objective of the camp, saying, "This training phase is centred around the Asian Championships in Gandhinagar from May 12 to 17, which will also serve as a qualification event for both the Commonwealth Games 2026 and the Asian Games 2026. "

He stressed that the long-term vision is equally important, adding, "Our focus is on extracting the best from the younger generation because they are the future. The youngsters have shown real promise, and we believe they can deliver in Gandhinagar and secure qualification for the major events ahead. "

India enters this cycle on the back of a dominant showing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the 15-member contingent secured 10 medals and topped the weightlifting standings. Despite a reduction in weight categories from 20 to 16 for the 2026 edition in Glasgow, Sharma remains confident of maintaining that level of success.

"Even with fewer weight categories, our target remains the same - we want to replicate the 10-medal haul from the previous Commonwealth Games (Birmingham 2022)," he said, underlining the team's ambition.

The Asian Games, however, remain a tougher frontier. India has not secured a weightlifting medal at the continental event since Karnam Malleswari's silver in Bangkok in 1998. At the most recent Hangzhou 2022 edition (held in 2023), Mirabai Chanu came close but finished fourth after sustaining an injury.

Sharma acknowledged the gap and expressed optimism that the current generation can bridge it, noting that the progress of Indian lifters is steadily moving in the right direction.

Beyond performance, Sharma highlighted doping as one of the biggest challenges affecting Indian weightlifting. "Doping has been one of the key reasons behind India's struggles at major events. Addressing this issue at the junior level is absolutely critical," he said.

He pointed to the growing concern around contaminated supplements, adding, "Many young athletes are not fully aware of adulterated supplements. Their usage is increasing, and it needs to be controlled through awareness and stricter checks. "

While acknowledging ongoing efforts by NADA and sports authorities, Sharma emphasised the need for stronger deterrents. "In my view, the fear of losing one's career is the only real deterrent. There must be more frequent testing at the junior level, and those found guilty should face strict penalties," he said.

Sharma also raised concerns about doping at the grassroots level, suggesting that limited testing at some state competitions allows athletes to take risks for short-term gains. "Doping at the junior and state level often goes unchecked due to limited testing. Some athletes take that risk for short-term gains or government employments, and even when caught later, the consequences are not always strong enough. That needs to change," Sharma added.

With the Asian Championships fast approaching, the Patiala camp represents a decisive phase for Indian weightlifting. The tournament in Gandhinagar will not only test the readiness of the current crop but also play a crucial role in shaping qualification for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2026.