GB University Team Impresses at FISU World University Championships

Great Britain’s university weightlifters delivered a strong series of performances at the 2026 World University Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar, highlighted by three silver medals for Asees Dhanda.

The four-athlete GB University Team featured Asees Dhanda, Lily McNeil, Steve Bestman and Jasper Hilton.

Dhanda produced an excellent performance, making five of her six attempts and securing silver in the snatch, clean and jerk and total. She lifted 80kg and 82kg in the snatch before narrowly missing 84kg, then completed all three clean and jerks at 94kg, 97kg and 99kg. Her 181kg total equalled her personal best and secured a third silver medal.

Lily McNeil narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth overall with a 198kg total. She completed all three snatches at 84kg, 88kg and 90kg to place fourth, before opening the clean and jerk with 108kg and narrowly missing 111kg twice. She finished fifth in the clean and jerk and fourth overall.

Jasper Hilton recorded a 343kg total to finish sixth overall. He completed 147kg in the snatch to place sixth and, after opening the clean and jerk at 191kg, finished strongly with 196kg to take fourth in the clean and jerk.

Steve Bestman successfully completed a 137kg snatch before withdrawing from the competition ahead of the clean and jerk.

The championships provided another valuable opportunity for British student-athletes to compete on the international stage, with the team returning from Doha with three silver medals and a number of strong top-six finishes.