India Shines at World Arm Wrestling Championships with 20 Medals

New Delhi, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : The 47th World Arm Wrestling and 28th World Para Arm Wrestling Championships, taking place in New Delhi, have seen Indian competitors excel in the first two days of finals. So far, they have claimed four gold, two silver, and 14 bronze medals, positioning India fourth in the overall medal standings, behind Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.

This championship marks the first time India is hosting the event, featuring over 1,700 athletes from more than 60 countries. The opening ceremony was attended by Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, and Anurag Singh Thakur, MP from Hamirpur and former Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. Organized under the World Arm Wrestling Federation (WAF) by the People’s Arm Wrestling Federation of India (PAFI), the event has drawn significant international attention.

Notable figures present at the inauguration included WAF President Essen Hazitodorov, Secretary General Mircea Simionescu-Simisel, Asian Arm Wrestling Federation President Zhenbek Mukambetov, and Phil Rasmussen, President of Arm Wrestling Australia. On October 29, India’s Masters team delivered an impressive performance, securing four gold, one silver, and seven bronze medals. Jinsimol Sebastian stood out by winning gold in both arms in the Grand Master Women’s 80 kg category.

Yogesh Chaudhary earned a gold medal in the right-hand competition and a bronze in the left-hand event in the Master Women’s Plus 80 kg category. Shaukat VT also triumphed, winning gold in the Master Men’s 60 kg right-hand event and a bronze in the left-hand category. In the Grand Master Women’s Plus 80 kg right-hand competition, Minimoli Jose took silver, while Preetha C won bronze. Priya Payyan Kunhivittil and Mini K also secured two bronze medals each in their respective categories.

On October 30, during the left-arm finals, young athletes contributed to India’s success with eight medals. Jimison Marwen won silver in the Youth Men’s 65 kg category, while Abhas Rana (Junior Boys Plus 90 kg), Laithansanga (Youth Men’s 55 kg), Ajay Kumar (Youth Men’s 60 kg), and Vishnupriya P (Youth Women’s 80 kg) all earned bronze medals. In the sub-junior category, Aryan Singh (-45 kg), Yumlam Chingkhei Singh (50 kg), and Shane Salish (70 kg) also brought home bronze medals.

Beyond the medal winners, India’s overall performance was commendable. A total of 128 Indian athletes reached 90 out of 101 finals, achieving 154 finishes. Among them, 17 athletes narrowly missed out on medals, finishing in fourth place. Naveen Paul in the Master Men’s 110 kg category and Mihsangevba Rimbai in the Grand Master Women’s 80 kg category both placed fourth in their respective finals.

These results highlight India’s growing presence in international arm wrestling, with athletes from sub-junior to grand master categories earning medals. The championship also serves as a platform for those aspiring to enter the professional circuit. Yogesh Chaudhary and Abhas Rana are set to participate in the ‘Pro Panga League’ Gold Edition 2 on November 28 in Pune, which is expected to attract top arm wrestlers from India and around the world.