Weightlifting qualifying period extended to April 2021 for Tokyo Olympics

Asian Games 2018 champion Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei is on course for her third consecutive Olympic Games appearance with 4,864 qualifying points at 59kg. She won the bronze at Rio 2016. © IWF
Asian Games 2018 champion Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei is on course for her third consecutive Olympic Games appearance with 4,864 qualifying points at 59kg. She won the bronze at Rio 2016. © IWF

Lausanne, Switzerland, June 3, 2020: The IOC has approved the International Weightlifting Federation’s revised Olympic Qualifying System for Tokyo 2020, which now extends the qualifying period to April 30, 2021.

All results and rankings achieved by weightlifters during the qualifying events held prior to the cessation of qualifying will be retained with no changes to their value. 

Following the suspension of qualifying events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent postponement of Tokyo 2020, the revised qualifying system will allow for a further qualification period, which will run from October 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Replacements for the cancelled events originally scheduled will be held during this period.

The criteria whereby weightlifters must participate in at least six competitions throughout the overall period starting November 1, 2018 has been maintained.

Weightlifters had also been required to compete in at least one of the specified competitions during each of the first, second and third original qualifying periods. 

Some weightlifters had already competed in six events, including one in each of the qualifying periods.

The third period, however, was brought to a premature end by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, not all weightlifters had the opportunity to fulfill this eligibility requirement.

All weightlifters wishing to qualify for Tokyo 2020 will now be required to compete in at least one of the specified competitions between October 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. 

*A total of 56 men and 56 women will qualify on the basis of world ranking points collated by the IWF. 

*A further 35 men and 35 women will qualify on the basis of continental ranking points collated by the IWF. 

*Three men and three women will be granted host country qualifying status.

*Four men and four women will receive tripartite commission invitations.  

Source: https://www.iwf.net