This week Maxim Agapitov, the Russian Weightlifting Federation President, is in India to meet his counterpart Sahdev Yadav.

"The purpose of the visit of Agapitov is to implement a joint sports development programme and project to enhance weightlifting culture in both countries," the Indian federation said in a press release.

The two Presidents met at the Indian federation headquarters in Noida before Agapitov headed for the Indian national team coaching camp in Patiala "to meet Indian lifters and understand the concept of training and infrastructure in the country".

"The programme not only focuses on the sports activities but also enhances the fostering of a healthy physical, spiritual and moral lifestyle among young weightlifters," the statement continued.

India and Russia will hold joint training camps and anti-doping awareness programmes across various age groups, and there will be "an exchange of experience with the participation of specialists".

In Iran, the Nowruzgah invitation event - which is not an official International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) competition - is scheduled for March 10 to 14 in Kish, an island resort 10 miles off the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf.

It is timed to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year which is celebrated in parts of Russia, and the Iranian Weightlifting Federation plans to hold it annually after the inaugural event this year.

Sajjad Anoushiravani, who is hoping to be elected permanent President of the Iranian Weightlifting Federation this week and currently holds an interim role, said, "This is an important competition for us, and we will have nine teams coming, with 36 athletes."

Both developments highlight the difference in attitude towards Russia in Asia and in large parts of the Western world since the war in Ukraine began just over a year ago.

European Governments have spoken strongly against the idea of athletes from Russia and Belarus competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games under a neutral flag.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) imposed sport-related sanctions last year against the Governments of Russia and Belarus.

Last month, the IOC said that the Olympic Council of Asia had "outlined a possible qualification pathway for athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport" for Paris 2024 .

The IOC said it "will continue the exploration of the concept", which will top the agenda when its Executive Board meets from March 28 to 30.

The IWF has said it welcomes the exploration of a qualification pathway by the IOC, and that it "stands in solidarity with Ukraine and reaffirms its support for the IOC’s sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian State and Government".

Like other International Federations, the IWF is the "sole authority" for its competitions, the IOC said, but all governing bodies who will be in Paris are expected to follow whatever course of action the IOC recommends.

Russia and Belarus collectively named 65 athletes in the preliminary entries for the European Championships in Armenia next month, a qualifying event for Paris, for which the final entry deadline is March 15.

It is unlikely that the IOC will make any recommendation about "neutral" participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus before then, and if that is the case the 65 names are expected to be removed.

It remains possible for weightlifters from Russia and Belarus to begin their qualifying process at the Asian Championships in Jinju, Korea in May, although the Russians have said they are expecting "more clarity" from the IOC.

April 2, three days after the IOC board meeting, is the deadline for final entries for the Asian Championships.