India Hosts Historic World Armwrestling Championships in 2026

India is making waves in the sports arena by hosting the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship in 2026. With over 1,700 participants from more than 60 countries, this event marks a significant milestone for the sport in the country. Union Minister Raksha Khadse highlighted the importance of this championship as a platform to promote armwrestling in India. The country has already secured an impressive medal tally, showcasing its growing prowess in the sport. The excitement continues with the upcoming Pro Panja League, promising to elevate the sport further. Read on to learn more about this historic event and its implications for the future of armwrestling in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 3, 2026, 23:47 IST

A Landmark Event for Armwrestling in India

New Delhi, November 3: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, emphasized the significance of India hosting the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship 2026, calling it a "remarkable opportunity" to promote the sport nationwide.

During her visit to the ongoing Championship at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in New Delhi, Khadse expressed her enthusiasm for the event, which is taking place in India for the first time from October 29 to November 6, 2026. The Championship has attracted over 1,700 participants, including athletes, officials, and supporters from more than 60 nations, marking it as one of the largest international armwrestling competitions ever held.

The event is organized by the People's Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI), under the leadership of Preeti Jhangiani, who is also the Vice President of the Asian Armwrestling Federation (AAF), along with Parvinn Dabass, co-founder of the Pro Panja League, with guidance from the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF).

While attending the Championship, the Minister observed the matches, engaged with athletes and officials, and extended her best wishes to all competing nations, particularly India's armwrestlers and para armwrestlers.

India has achieved an impressive medal haul at the 2026 World Armwrestling & Para-Armwrestling Championships, totaling 58 medals: 9 gold, 19 silver, and 30 bronze. This includes 26 medals in para categories, 20 in sub-junior, junior, and youth divisions, and 12 in masters and grandmasters categories.

In her remarks, Khadse stated, "Hosting the 47th World Armwrestling & 28th Para World Armwrestling Championship 2026 is a significant opportunity for us. I wish everyone the best and am committed to promoting armwrestling in India. Together, we can achieve great things for our country."

The Minister's presence underscores the robust institutional backing the Championship has garnered since its inauguration on October 29, 2026, by Union Minister of Parliamentary & Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, and Member of Parliament, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur. This Championship builds on India's growing prominence in the sport, following the Asian Armwrestling Cup in Mumbai in 2024 and the Asian Armwrestling & Para Armwrestling Championship 2025 in New Delhi, where India secured 176 medals and finished second overall.

The excitement from the World Championship will transition into the upcoming Pro Panja League (PPL) Poonawalla Gold Edition II, scheduled for November 28, 2026, in Pune. This event, organized by PPL in collaboration with the Poonawalla Group, will showcase top Indian and international armwrestlers, including World Championship medallists Yogesh Choudhary (Gold, Master Women +80 kg Right; Bronze Left), Harkomal Singh Gill (Silver, Youth Men 85 kg Right), and Aabhas Rana (Bronze, Junior Boys +90 kg Left).

The Championship will continue until November 6, 2026, with world titles to be contested across both able-bodied and para categories.