The Libyan Weightlifting Federation continues to honor Libya in its international participations, with the year 2025 being one of the distinguished years for the sport in terms of foreign engagements.
National team weightlifters participated at the end of this year in the Arab Championship held in Qatar, and prior to that in the African Games hosted by Angola.
Libyan weightlifters won 13 colored medals in their Arab participation, securing 3 gold, 5 silver, and an equal number of bronze medals.
In their African participation, the national team was crowned with 6 gold medals, thanks to the champions Mohammed Al-Bakhansi and Abdulraouf Al-Kakli.
Libyan Weightlifting Federation
The Libyan Weightlifting Federation is the national governing body for the sport of weightlifting in Libya, responsible for organizing competitions and developing athletes. It operates under the umbrella of the Libyan Olympic Committee and the international governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). Its history is intertwined with Libya’s broader sporting development, though specific details of its founding and key historical milestones are not widely documented in international sources.
Libya
Libya is a North African country with a rich history that includes ancient Phoenician and Greek settlements, most notably at Cyrene, and later Roman rule. It was part of the Ottoman Empire before Italian colonization in the early 20th century, gaining independence as a kingdom in 1951. The nation’s modern history was dominated by Muammar Gaddafi’s lengthy rule from 1969 until the 2011 civil war and his overthrow.
Qatar
Qatar is a sovereign country on the Arabian Peninsula, historically shaped by its Bedouin heritage and centuries of pearl diving economy before the discovery of oil and natural gas transformed it in the mid-20th century. Its most prominent cultural site is the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, which houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Islamic artifacts spanning 1,400 years.
Angola
Angola is a country in southwestern Africa that gained independence from Portugal in 1975 after a long liberation war. Its history includes the powerful pre-colonial Kingdom of Kongo and a legacy as a major source of enslaved people during the transatlantic slave trade. Today, its cultural sites range from the colonial architecture of its capital, Luanda, to the rock paintings of Tchitundo-Hulu.
Arab Championship
The Arab Championship is a major football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the Arab world. It was first held in 1963 and has been organized sporadically, with the most recent edition rebranded as the FIFA Arab Cup and hosted by Qatar in 2021.
African Games
The African Games are a continental multi-sport event held every four years, bringing together athletes from across Africa. First held in 1965 in Brazzville, Congo, the Games were established to promote unity and sports development on the continent, often serving as a qualifier for the Olympic Games.
Mohammed Al-Bakhansi
Mohammed Al-Bakhansi is a historic mosque and religious school located in Cairo, Egypt. It was built in the 15th century during the Mamluk era by the Amir Mohammed Al-Bakhansi, serving as a center for Islamic learning and worship.
Abdulraouf Al-Kakli
Abdulraouf Al-Kakli is a prominent cultural center and library located in the city of Homs, Syria. It was established in the early 20th century and is named after the Syrian intellectual Abdulraouf Al-Kakli, serving as an important hub for literature, research, and community events in the region.
