• Sri Lanka Strengthlifting Federation Executive President J.M. Arafath on the upcoming Hack Lift Championship 2025

Strengthlifting is still a new and emerging sport in Sri Lanka, but thanks to a dedicated team and passionate leadership, it is beginning to gain recognition. At the forefront of this effort is Sri Lanka Strengthlifting Federation Executive President and World Strength Lifting Federation Executive Member J.M. Arafath.

Despite facing financial challenges and a lack of resources, Arafath and his team are determined to build a strong foundation for the sport. With the Hack Lift Championship 2025 set to take place on 15 March, The Daily Morning Brunch sat down with him to discuss the federation’s journey, the future of strengthlifting in Sri Lanka, and what it takes to compete in this demanding sport.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

How did the Sri Lanka Strengthlifting Federation come to life?

It has been three years since we started this federation. At first, it was not an easy task, but we have now established strengthlifting in Sri Lanka, and we organise three main events. Our vision is to make this sport popular and train more athletes across the country.

To expand our reach, we have built a strong structure with a committee of three members in all 25 districts. Recently, we also started training referees for the sport. We held our first event last year, and this will be our second competition.

What inspired you to introduce this sport to Sri Lanka?

I started by educating myself. Two years ago, I travelled to India to train and study a degree course specifically focused on this discipline. I learnt a lot and realised that Sri Lanka lacked representation in this sport. That’s when I decided to introduce strengthlifting here.

It was a completely new category, and I had to start everything from scratch. But with dedication and teamwork, we have built a federation that is steadily growing.

What challenges have you faced in promoting strengthlifting?

The biggest challenge has been securing financial sponsorships. Strengthlifting is still an unfamiliar sport in Sri Lanka, and funding is limited. We also struggle with a lack of proper equipment, which can cost at least Rs. 1.1 million.

So far, we have managed everything through the support of our committee members and chairperson. But if we had proper sponsorship, it would make a huge difference in the sport’s growth.

How do you manage to run the federation and competitions without sponsors?

We have been working extremely hard to make this happen. Since we have no official sponsors yet, we rely entirely on our committee members and personal contacts for financial support.

We are hopeful that, as strengthlifting grows in Sri Lanka, we will receive more recognition and financial backing from organisations and sports authorities.

What do you hope to achieve through the Hack Lift Championship?

Our main goal is to raise awareness about strengthlifting across Sri Lanka. There are so many talented athletes who never get a chance to shine because they don’t have the right platform.

This is a rare and unique sport, and we need more people to take part. By organising events like the Hack Lift Championship, we are giving athletes an opportunity to perform, compete, and continue their strengthlifting journey.

Strengthlifting is often seen as a sport for younger athletes. What is your message to people who feel they are too old to start?

Strength is essential for everyone, no matter their age. This sport builds confidence and endurance. One of the biggest misconceptions is that people cannot participate in sports after turning 30.

Strengthlifting, however, can be mastered even in your 50s. In fact, many people continue training and competing well into their late 50s. It’s never too late to start.

What measures do you take to ensure fair play and safety in the competition?

We take judging and safety very seriously. Our referees are well-trained and experienced. We organise workshops to educate them, and they are ranked at A and B levels. In addition, we have a separate jury to oversee decisions and ensure complete transparency.

As for athlete safety, all our committee members are trained in first aid. We follow strict guidelines to make sure every participant competes under proper conditions with trained coaches.

What are the competition categories and who can participate?

We have two main categories: Junior and sub-junior. The sub-junior category is ages 13 to 18 and the junior category is ages 18 to 23.

Both men and women can compete and we have different weight classes.

• Men’s weight classes: 52 kg, 56 kg, 60 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg, 85 kg, 95 kg, 105 kg, and 115+ kg
• Women’s weight classes: 46 kg, 52 kg, 58 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, and 80+ kg

Every participant is trained under proper coaching to ensure they are competition-ready.

How do you prepare for an event like this?

We work on event planning six months in advance. Each committee member and referee is prepared a month before the competition, and we continue workshops even as the event approaches.

We also communicate with every competitor to understand their training progress and make sure they are ready. It’s a long process, but proper preparation is key to running a successful event.

What are the main strengthlifting events, and what will be featured in this championship?

Strengthlifting consists of three main competitions: Two-ankle lift, incline bench press, and hack squat. For this event, we are focusing on hack squat.

We run these as individual competitions because introducing all three at once can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers. My long-term aim is to create a strong national pool of Sri Lankan strengthlifters.

What is your final message to those interested in strengthlifting?

Strengthlifting is for everyone, regardless of age or background. It’s a sport that builds resilience, confidence, and endurance. We encourage more people to come forward, participate, and showcase their talent. This is just the beginning, and with more support, we can take Sri Lanka to the next level in the world of strengthlifting.

For those interested in competing, spectating, or supporting the federation, this championship will be a milestone event, highlighting Sri Lanka’s potential in strengthlifting.