Dr. Sahdev Yadav was elected unanimously as President of the South Asian Weightlifting Federation. The decision was taken at the Federation's election meeting in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The meeting was held on 12th May 2026. The result placed the Indian Weightlifting Federation chief in charge of the regional body.
The election also named Mrs. Sabina Yadav as Chief Executive Officer of the South Asian Weightlifting Federation. Mrs. Sabina Yadav serves as Member - Innovation Committee, International Weightlifting Federation. Mrs. Sabina Yadav also works as Jt. Secretary, Indian Weightlifting Federation. Officials said other posts were filled during the same meeting.
Dr. Sahdev Yadav currently leads the Indian Weightlifting Federation as President.
Dr. Sahdev Yadav also holds roles across several sports bodies. Dr. Sahdev Yadav is Treasurer of the Indian Olympic Association. Dr. Sahdev Yadav is Vice President of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation.
Dr. Sahdev Yadav also serves as Assistant to the President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation. The unanimous vote was described as a sign of trust. Officials linked it to work on weightlifting in India and South Asia. The statement also referenced contributions to the wider international weightlifting community.
The South Asian Weightlifting Federation confirmed the rest of the elected group. Mr. Ram Krishna Sreshtha was chosen as General Secretary. Two Vice Presidents were also elected from Maldives and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh received a place on the Executive Board through Ms. Shahria Sultana.
| Role | Name | Current position listed |
|---|---|---|
| President | Dr. Sahdev Yadav | President, Indian Weightlifting Federation |
| General Secretary | Mr. Ram Krishna Sreshtha | President, Nepal Weightlifting Federation |
| Vice President | Mr. Ibrahim Hameed | President, Maldives Weightlifting Federation |
| Vice President | Mr. Sanka Ratnayake | President, Sri Lanka Weightlifting Federation |
| Chief Executive Officer | Mrs. Sabina Yadav | Jt. Secretary, Indian Weightlifting Federation |
| Executive Board Member | Ms. Shahria Sultana | Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation |
The Asian Weightlifting Federation sent congratulations to the elected officials. It also said it expected the leadership to help the sport progress. The South Asian Weightlifting Federation said the group would work together on regional standards. The release listed athlete programmes, coaching, infrastructure, and international participation as priorities.
