4th National Armwrestling & Para Armwrestling Championship has started at Rashtriya Raksha University,and scale of this event is not small thing ah.
Over 1,800 athletes from various states have reached there,which itself says lot about how fast this sport is growing in India . For arm wrestling,such big gathering under one roof feels like proper moment,not just another sports event.
Championship is being organized under leadership of Rajendrasinh Parmar,President of Armwrestling Sports Association Gujarat,and Treasurer Mayank Patel . It runs from May 30 to June 1, 2026,with competitions across sub junior,junior,senior,youth,para,and masters categories,all divided into various weight classes.
And one nice part is athletes are staying on university campus only . So atmosphere must be mix of competition,friendship,nervous energy and that constant testing of strength which happens whenever armwrestlers are around.
Few things standing out clearly in this championship:
- Over 1,800 participants have come from various states.
- Events are happening across sub junior,junior,senior,youth,para,and masters categories.
- Top two from each category will qualify for World Armwrestling & Para Armwrestling Championship in New Delhi later this year.
This qualifier angle makes everything more serious . Because for many athletes,this is not just about winning medal in Gandhinagar,it is about getting chance to represent India on global stage at World Armwrestling & Para Armwrestling Championship .
And tbh,senior men’s category at 90 kg is already getting extra attention because of Pro Panja League names like Denic Lalruattluanaga,Tawheed Shaikh,and Dara Singh Handa . When such athletes enter same category,contest automatically becomes intense.
During opening ceremony,Preeti Jhangiani,President of PAFI and Vice President of the Asian Armwrestling Federation,said,"The growth of arm wrestling in India is evident from the scale of this championship. Having more than 1,800 athletes under one roof is a testament to the passion,dedication, and rapid development of the sport across the country."
And she is right in one way,this kind of turnout shows arm wrestling is no longer some side sport people watch casually at fairs or college events . Proper structure,para categories,masters,World Championship qualification… all this gives sport more serious identity .
But still,real test will be what happens after this event . Whether these athletes get more support,more visibility,and more chances beyond few big tournaments… that question is still hanging there…
