Today at the conference hall of the hotel ""Ashgabat"" the congress of the Asian Weightlifting Federation where issues of organisation of the championship of Asia in this sport to be held at the Olympic village of the capital from April 23 to April, 29, were discussed, took place. In competitions about 200 weight-lifters from more than 30 countries - Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, People's Democratic Republic of Korea, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and others will take part. Opening the congress, chairman of the National Federation of Weightlifting Berdiniyaz Matiev underlined that the present championship promises to be especially strained in respect of contest for awards, as the strongest athletes have arrived in Ashgabat, among which are winners and prize-winners of the Olympic Games and championships of the planet. Competitions also will define the level of organising abilities of Turkmen experts as in September, this year, our capital will host the 5th Asian indoor and martial arts games. As president of the International Weightlifting Federation Tomash Ayan told in his interview to the Turkmen State News Agency, he was impressed by the quality of sports facilities where the Ashgabat championship of Asia will take place. The foreign guest was also impressed with the hospitality of Turkmen nationals and beauty of the city. President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation Mohammed Yusuf Al Mana who, first of all, expressed his gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for the opportunity to hold the congress and large continental level competitions in Ashgabat, also expressed his view of the upcoming championship. This sport will be also presented for the first time in the Asian indoor and martial arts games in which there is also a great merit of the Turkmen leader. Speaking of the congress, the visitor from Saudi Arabia underlined that the meeting was very constructive. In particular, participants discussed some disputable points, which arose during previous competitions, to avoid them in forthcoming tournaments. At the beginning of this year the International Weightlifting Federation has defined new weight categories for the female team, having increased them to eight (before it was seven). Thus, the championship of Asia will be held for the first time in Ashgabat according to new rules.