Doha: The Executive Office of the Arab Weightlifting Federation (AWF) convened on the sidelines of the Combined Weightlifting Championships in Doha, featuring the Qatar Cup, the Arab Weightlifting Championship, and the West Asia Weightlifting Championship. The event saw extensive Arab and Asian participation and was attended by numerous high-ranking officials from the weightlifting community.
According to Qatar News Agency, during the meeting, Mohammed bin Yousef Al Mana was re-elected as President of the AWF for a term extending from 2025 to 2029. He was elected unopposed, highlighting the confidence in his leadership, which has promoted Arab presence on international platforms, enhanced the sport's system, and developed refereeing and coaching talents.
Al Mana continues to hold several significant positions, including First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), President of the Qatar Weightlifting Federation (QWF), President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, and President of the Afro-Asian Weightlifting Council. His re-election underscores his influence in the global weightlifting arena.
In a new organizational step, the position of First Vice President of the AWF was established to strengthen governance and expand executive work. Mohammed Ahmed Al Harbi, President of the Saudi Weightlifting Federation, was elected unopposed to this post, in recognition of his contributions to the sport in the Gulf region.
The vice presidents' formation was also approved, with Talal Rasheed Al Jassar (Kuwait) and Dr. Abdullah Al Jarmal (Yemen) representing the Asian region, alongside Mohamed Abdelmaksoud (Egypt) and Kamel Saidi (Algeria) representing the African region.
The executive office, elected unopposed, includes representatives from Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Morocco, Libya, and Palestine, showcasing geographical diversity and technical expertise.
The meeting was attended by representatives from 19 countries, as well as a record number of officials from Arab federations and delegations participating in the championships. Notable attendees included Mohammed Hasan Jalood Al Shammari, President of the IWF, Abdel Aziz bin Mohammed Al Enazi, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, and Dr. Astrit Hasani, President of the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF).
This participation highlights the advanced status of the Arab championships and the AWF's growing role in international weightlifting. Al Mana expressed that his re-election is a significant responsibility and emphasized the importance of meeting the aspirations of Arab federations in the coming years.
He highlighted the focus on expanding participation, qualifying coaching and refereeing cadres, and developing programs for juniors and youth to prepare Arab champions for continental and global competitions.
Al Mana also noted that Doha's hosting of the Combined Championships exemplifies successful organizational and coaching integration, with Qatar committed to supporting Arab sport and ensuring the success of future championships.