News

Armenian Hripsime Khurshudyan wins Best Female Athlete Title

Just months after winning the “Best Athlete of the Kotayk Province” title in Armenia, Olympic medalist Hripsime Khurshudyan has added another accolade to her name. On Friday, March 8, Khurshudyan won the award for the 2013 “Best Female Athlete” in Armenia. The 25-year-old weightlifting champion is best known for her breakthrough performance at the London Olympics this past summer, where she won the Bronze Medal in the Women’s +75 kg bodyweight category. Her latest award was unexpected “I could not believe when I heard my name announced for the title of the Best Female Athlete of 2013,” Khurshudyan told the Armenian Weekly in an interview. “It was really unexpected. I could not find the words to describe the moment.” Khurshudyan was so honored by the award that she did not know how to release her emotions. “I decided to post it on my Facebook page, something I didn’t even do when I won the bronze at the Olympics!” she said. Her current goal is to win the Olympic gold, but she will be taking it easy for the next few months—at least until her baby is born in October. “I will then return to work towards the 2014 World Championships, and afterwards I will go for the gold at the Olympics in 2016,” she said. Source: Armenia

Islam Karimov held talks with IWF President in Tashkent

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan at the Presidential Residence Oqsaroy on 5 April 2013. Welcoming the guest, the Uzbek President underlined the contribution of the IWF and its President Dr. Tamas Ajan in the development of weightlifting sport and in the Olympic Movement. At the meeting, they exchanged opinion on perspectives of development of weightlifting in the country, further strengthening and expanding fruitful cooperation. Dr. Tamas Ajan underlined that weightlifting is one of the popular sports in Uzbekistan as local athletes are successfully participating in various International Competitions. The IWF President highly rates the growing authority of Uzbekistan at the international sport arena due to achievements and success of Uzbek athletes. He also highly appreciates the high level organization of the 2013 IWF Youth World Championships. Mirabror Usmanov the President of the Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan was also present at the meeting. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov wished success to the competition and great sport achievements to

Tommy Yule appointed as new BWL Performance Director

FORMER Olympic and Commonwealth weightlifter Tommy Yule has been appointed as British Weight Lifting’s new Performance Director. The 37-year-old was born in South Africa but competed for Great Britain in the Sydney Olympics, and went on to win silver and bronze medals in the Commonwealth Games in 1998, 2002 and 2006. He has competed in the sport for more than 20 years, and still holds the British senior snatch record in the 105kg bodyweight category, having lifted 165kg 13 years ago. Away from weightlifting, Loughborough-based Yule has ten years’ experience in strength and conditioning support in high performance sport, working with organisations such as UK Athletics and the English Institute of Sport. "Having competed in the sport for over 20 years, it is an honour to be appointed to lead the high performance programme for Olympic weightlifting and IPC Powerlifting,” he said. “There is a lot of potential in both disciplines; to continue to build a programme that supports the lifters and their coaches to realise that potential and succeed on the international stage is an exciting challenge for me.” BWL Director with responsibility for performance, Sarah Rowell said: “We’re delighted to have been able to recruit someone of the calibre of Tommy to lead the sport forward. “His own competitive career combined with his work in high performance means that in our view there is nobody better equipped to see the sport through the Rio Olympic and Paralympic cycle.” Source:

Revised Timetable for 2013 YWC

Due to the extreme number of Entries received, the 2013 YWC Timetable had to be revised, the new version can be found here. Please note that according to the new Timetable some bodyweight categories will be held on different day, and it is possible that one category will be organized on two days. The Verification of Final Entries will be held on 6 April 2013 at 18:00. Please remember that according to the IWF Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations “a copy of each participating athlete’s passport must be presented at the VFE Meeting by the relevant Team

Patrick Hickey meets Dr. Tamas Ajan

Patrick Hickey, IOC Executive Board Member, European Olympic Committee President, Ireland National Olympic Committee President paid a visit to Budapest, Hungary and held fruitful discussions with his colleague Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President on issues of mutual

Education Seminar and ADAMS training in Tashkent

The IWF will hold an educational seminar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in the frame of the IWF Education Program. We kindly invite all our Member Federations to participate! The seminar is going to be held on 10th April, 2013 in the morning (more details will be published on the spot) in Hotel Uzbekistan. This time the main topic will be the recently approved IWF Constitution, Technical & Competition Rules and Anti-Doping Policy, furthermore we will give detailed information on the Qualification system for the YOG 2014. The main purpose of this seminar is to ensure that all sport leaders are familiar with the text and the content of the IWF Constitution and content of the new Rules. On the same day, we will organize an interactive ADAMS training to clarify key points in relation to ADAMS, including information on athlete whereabouts requirements and updated submission reports. Make sure that all the officials of your Federation will participate in the