Is it Farewell to the Ealing Weightlifting Club?
Head coach blames council inaction for its potential demise
Kazem Panjavi (right) with medal winners from the club at a championship event. Picture: EWC
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December 19, 2025
Ealing Weightlifting Club (EWC) has warned that it may close its doors in January following a long-running dispute with Ealing Council over facilities, funding, and support. In a letter to local MP James Murray, Head Coach and Club Manager Kazem Panjavi explained that after a year of unsuccessful negotiations he will step down at the end of January 2026. Unless other coaches or committee members take over, the club will cease operations.
The club, which was founded by Mr Panjavi in 2011, has built a reputation as one of the most respected weightlifting institutions in the country. It has trained more than 1,400 young people from across Ealing and beyond, supported women in sport, refugees, people with special needs, and those from low-income families, and delivered coaching in schools and outreach programmes. It has also run sessions for adult beginners and over-40s, hosted local and regional competitions, and represented Ealing and the UK at national and international events. In addition, the club has operated as a British Weightlifting Talent Academy and is a member of the Ealing Youth Foundation Community Network.
Mr Panjavi is of Kurdish-Iranian origin and competed at the Barcelona Olympics. Under his stewardship, the club has continued to provide a conveyer belt of talent in the sport. It won three gold medals at this year’s English Age Championships and Asees Dhanda (Seesy) set a new national record in her weight class and earned her spot at the World Youth Championship in Peru where she finished 8th overall. Seesy has been training at the club since she was six and now holds more than 200 British records and won a bronze medal at the World Youth Championships in 2023.
Asees Dhanda (Seesy) delighted at a successful lift. Picture: EWC
Another recent success story is Reza Rouhi, like Mr Panjavi a Kurdish-Iranian who was given asylum in the country in 2022. Since then, Reza has competed as a guest at the British Senior Championships and earned a spot on the IWF Refugee Team.
Despite this record, Mr Panjavi says the club has struggled to secure meaningful support from Ealing Council. Plans for a facility extension were delayed until the opportunity was lost, while attempts to secure a formal lease since 2016 stalled, with the council reportedly asking for more than £6,000 to issue one. The rent for the club’s storage container was doubled without warning in 2023, and repeated requests for signage were ignored. Problems with emergency access and a telegraph pole blocking entry were left unresolved, and a potential HS2 Community Fund grant worth up to £60,000 was missed after it is claimed the council delayed for 13 months before telling the club it was “not a priority.”
Mr Panjavi praised James Murray for his consistent support, saying that the MP had responded to every message, met with council members, and pushed for resolution, but he blames council inaction for leaving the club with no viable future.
Before closing, the club will host one final event: the Ealing Weightlifting Club Farewell Competition, which will take place on Friday 19 December at Perivale Park Athletics Track. The competition will run from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a medal ceremony at 4:45 pm. The event will celebrate the club’s achievements and give athletes, coaches, families, and supporters a chance to say goodbye.
An Ealing Council spokesperson said, “We are in discussions with Ealing Weightlifting Club regarding a proposed expansion at Perivale Park Athletics Track. They have expressed a desire to extend their operations, reduce costs and introduce container units without the need for planning permission.
“They want a long-term lease arrangement and have sought approval for new signage, which we are coordinating with the café to ensure we do not duplicate work.
“It is important to note that the site is already leased to our leisure operator, who will manage any sub-leasing or licensing of access as appropriate.
“We will continue to assess the proposals in line with planning regulations and operational agreements.”
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