Over 400 lifters from across the country will display their prowess during a three-day National Bench Press Powerlifting Championship (men and women), which kicks off at JRD Tata Sports Complex on Thursday.
The event is being organised by Indian Powerlifting Federation (IPF). The participating lifters arrived in the city on Wednesday morning and inspected the venue, said IPF general secretary Bhaskar Kumar Mitra.
"The championship will be conducted in 53kg, 59kg and 66kg weight categories. We have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the national meet," Mitra informed.
According to Mitra, they were also conducting an anti-dope awareness programme by New Delhi-based National Anti-doping Agency. A strict vigil will be kept on the lifters during the meet, he added.
A technical meeting was held late on Wednesday evening and the referees were allotted their respective duties.
The championship will be inaugurated by Swami Agyeyanandaji Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission in the presence of Govind Madhav Sharan, head of urban services, Tata Steel, and the company's sports department head Charles Borromeo.
