Competition

Competitions will take place in venues carefully selected to provide the best possible conditions for athletes and spectators alike. Each site reflects the host country’s commitment to university sport, offering high-quality facilities in a setting designed for international events.

Competition format

Overview

The Powerlifting competition is conducted in accordance with the most recent Technical Regulations of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF).

Disciplines and order of lifting

Athletes compete in three lifts, performed in the following sequence:

1. Squat
2. Bench Press
3. Deadlift

Each lift is performed and judged under IPF rules, including referee commands and the criteria for a valid attempt.

Attempts, totals, and tie break rules

Each athlete is permitted three attempts in each lift. The highest valid attempt in the squat, bench press, and deadlift is used to calculate the athlete’s total.

If lifters finish with the same total, the lighter lifter ranks higher. If bodyweight is also identical, the lifter who achieved the total first ranks higher. The same principle applies to rankings in the individual lifts and to world record situations.

Weight categories

The Championship is contested in the following bodyweight categories:

• Men: 59 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg, 83 kg, 93 kg, 105 kg, 120 kg, +120 kg
• Women: 47 kg, 52 kg, 57 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 76 kg, 84 kg, +84 kg

Awards and classifications

Medals are awarded to the top three athletes in each of the three individual lifts, and in the Total category.

A “Best Lifter” award is presented to the top three lifters in each gender, based on the IPF GL Points System, with the top lifter in each gender receiving a trophy.

Team classification

Team rankings are calculated in accordance with IPF Technical Rules. Only the point scores of the five highest ranked lifters from each delegation are counted. A team must include at least five athletes to be eligible for team awards.

Trophies are awarded to the top three teams in each gender category.

Weigh in procedure

Competitors’ weigh ins are conducted no earlier than two hours before the start of the relevant category’s competition, and the weigh in period lasts one and a half hours. Weigh ins are organised by session according to lot number, with the lowest lot number weighing in first.

Delegations composition

Each delegation may enter a maximum of two athletes per weight category, up to 32 athletes total, with a maximum of 16 men and 16 women. No reserve athletes are allowed.

All participating athletes and coaches require a valid IPF licence as a condition of entry.

The number of accredited delegation officials depends on delegation size: up to 2 officials for 1 to 8 athletes, up to 3 officials for 9 to 16 athletes, and up to 4 officials for more than 16 athletes.

Uniforms and sport equipment

Athletes must wear a national tracksuit or IPF approved lifting gear, and warm up areas must be equipped with IPF approved powerlifting equipment.

Venue

The sports venue at the University of Sharjah is a modern, well-equipped sport complex with cutting edge infrastructure designed to host national and international events. Dive into the Olympic-size swimming pools, explore the versatile indoor sports halls, and push your limits in the fully equipped gymnasiums. With a diverse array of sports available, from bodybuilding to basketball, volleyball to yoga, there’s something for every sports enthusiast to indulge in.

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Competition schedule

Technical equipment

The University of Sharjah, in cooperation with the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and the Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (EBBF), will provide the technical equipment and facilities required for the Championship, in line with the 2026 FISU Powerlifting Technical Handbook and IPF equipment approval standards.

Equipment approval is part of the Coordination Visit process with the FISU Technical Committee Chair.

1. Competition venue and field of play

1. Indoor competition venue with:
   • Stage 12 m x 12 m, maximum height 0.1 m
   • Competition platform 4 m x 2.5 m
   • Lighting minimum 3000 lux
2. Competition equipment:
   • Platform
   • Squat racks
   • Bench
   • Bars and discs
   • Collars
   • Deadlift jacks, minimum 3

2. Judging, timing, and results display

1. Referee lights system
2. Competition clock
3. Scoreboard
4. Screens displaying the scoreboard in the warm up area

3. Weigh in and referee facilities

1. Dedicated rooms:
   • Official weigh in room
   • Test weigh in room
   • Referee room
2. Scales:
   • Minimum 3 scales (official scale, test scale, and hotel scale)
   • Capacity up to 200 kg
   • Precision to 2 decimals

4. Warm up and training areas

1. Warm up area:
   • Warm up platforms with official IPF approved powerlifting racks, bars, and kilo calibrated powerlifting plates, minimum 6
2. Training venue:
   • Indoor venue with enough space for 3 training platforms of 3 m x 3 m, with safety zones

5. Sport presentation and broadcasting support

1. Audio system and microphone for announcements, music, commentary, results, and athlete introductions
2. Where a big screen is available for spectators, an IPF educational video on the sport’s rules can be displayed at the start of the competition day
3. IPF support for event delivery includes a speaker for competition announcements, a commentator and broadcasting team for the live stream, and a Computer Secretary to oversee the scoring system and referee lights

6. Medical and safety provision

1. First aid and emergency medical care, medical transportation, and 24 hour on call first aid medical services
2. A minimum of two ambulances per venue, on duty from the start of warm up until at least 45 minutes after the final competition of the day
3. Ice supply for treating injuries during practice and competition, as part of the medical coverage for the event

7. Equipment compliance and approval

1. Competition bars, discs, squat racks, bench racks, benches, and lifting platforms will be from manufacturers approved by the IPF Technical Committee. The IPF Approved List includes Eleiko among the approved suppliers for powerlifting bars and discs, racks, and lifting platforms.
2. Equipment approval is part of the Coordination Visit process with the FISU Technical Committee Chair.

Trainings

Competition venue will be available for training sessions during the whole competition period. In addition, the participants could use the weight room which is equipped with cardio machine, dumbbells, bars, and machines.

Other

The sport venue has storage, a swimming pool, and outdoor pitches.

Female competitors can use the swimming pool located near the female students’ dormitory (less than five minutes away).