Ahmedabad: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday inaugurated the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 and said that India aims to be among the world’s top five sporting nations by 2047.

Inaugurating the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 in Ahmedabad, Mandaviya said such international events will inspire emerging athletes. “Our demographic dividend is our strength. Prime Minister Modi has set a target to place India among the top 10 sporting nations in the next decade, and we are working towards being in the top five by 2047, coinciding with the vision of a developed India,” he said.

The week-long championship, hosted at the newly built Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura from August 24 to 30, has drawn 291 athletes from 30 Commonwealth nations competing for 144 medals across senior, junior, and youth categories. International Weightlifting Federation President Mohammed Jalood Al-Shammari confirmed the event will serve as a qualifier for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Mandaviya highlighted that since becoming Prime Minister, Modi has launched initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India, along with a new sports policy to strengthen infrastructure, improve governance, and create a structured sports culture. He stressed that the policy is athlete-centric, ensures women’s representation in federations, and promotes inclusivity for differently-abled athletes.

Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation Secretary General Paul Coffa said the tournament has been organised with Olympic-level facilities and preparations.

Ahmedabad is emerging as a major sporting hub, with the Asian Aquatics Championship 2025 scheduled for September-October, followed by the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 qualifiers in November at The Arena by TransStadia. In 2026, the city will also host the Asian Weightlifting Championship and the Archery Asia Para Cup – World Ranking Tournament. Looking further ahead, India will host the World Police and Fire Games 2029 in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar (Kevadia). DeshGujarat