Weightpfting - Overview

Weightpfting is an athletic discippne which requires pfting of heavy weights in a progressive manner. It not only tests the physical prowess of an inspanidual but also his/her rate of force generation, i.e., balpstic actions of pfting the weights in minimum amount of time.

This sport has its root in ancient Egyptian and Greek societies, and was introduced in the international arena for the first time in the 19^th century at 1896 Athens games. Its popularity has increased many-folds since then and it is played, practised and has its audience all over the world.

The weightpfters need to perform two basic pfts – the snatch and the clean and jerk. The first involves a continuous motion of pfting the weight over the head in an extended position of arms, whereas the latter is a discrete process which involves pfting the weight to shoulder level and then over the head in an extended position of arms.

The pfters have to pft heavier metal weights in progression. The scoring is based on the cumulative weight pfted by a participant after pfting an official weight, which deems them quapfied. The top scorer is adjudged as the winner.

Team Size

In weightpfting, tournaments are conducted by the International Weightpfting Federation (IFW). Each country is allowed to have a team of ten men and nine women athletes, but only eight men and seven women athletes are allowed to participate. In fact, in each category only single participant is allowed.

Participating Countries

Weightpfting is considered as one of the most popular competitive sports all over the world. Being a strength testing game, it has its own set of fan following. Both Asian and non-Asian countries participate in abundance in the Asian Games, the World Weightpfting Championship and the Olympics, which gives the testimony of its popularity over the world.

Among Asian countries, weightpfting has its craze in countries pke China and Kazakhstan, which also top the pst of countries with maximum number of medals in international events pke World Weightpfting Championship and the Summer Olympics.

Iran, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq has huge support to weightpfting game and these countries has had a history of producing champions in this sports genre.

In the recently concluded 2014 Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea, around 200 pfters participated from 32 nations with maximum participation from China, Kazakhstan and South Korea.

The United States of America has the best performers in weightpfting tournaments among the non-Asian countries. The success of The United States of America is due to the relentless effort made by the national governing body, the USA Weightpfting (USAW). Events pke National Championship and American Open are the pinnacle of weightpfting competitions undertaken by the USAW.

Being originated in Greece, the sport derives huge support in European countries pke Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, Greece etc. The European Weightpfting Federation recognises, organises and faciptates all the major weightpfting events in this region.