India Shines at World Armwrestling Championship with 20 Medals
India's Impressive Performance at the Championship
In a remarkable display of strength, India clinched 20 medals during the initial two finals days of the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship 2026, held at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in East Delhi. This achievement placed India fourth in the overall medal tally, trailing only behind Russia, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye.
The inauguration ceremony on Thursday was attended by Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, along with Anurag Singh Thakur, MP from Hamirpur and former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, as noted in a press release.
This championship marks the first time India has hosted the event, organized by the People's Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI), led by Preeti Jhangiani, who is also the President of PAFI, Vice President of AAF, and Co-founder of Pro Panja League, alongside Parvinn Dabass, Co-founder of Pro Panja League under the World Armwrestling Federation.
Notable attendees included WAF President Assen Hadjitodorov, General Secretary Mircea Simionescu-Simicel, Asian Armwrestling Federation President Jeenbek Mukambetov, and Phil Rasmussen, President of Armwrestling Australia.
India's Masters team achieved a commendable haul of 4 Gold, 1 Silver, and 7 Bronze medals. Jincymol Sebastian stood out by winning gold in both arms in the Grand Master Women 80 kg category, marking India's only double gold. Additionally, Yogesh Choudhary (Master Women +80 kg) and Shoukath VT (Master Men -60 kg) secured gold and bronze in their respective categories.
The Pro Panja League (PPL), co-founded by Preeti Jhangiani and Parvinn Dabass, provides a professional platform for Indian arm wrestlers to showcase their talents. Following their success, Yogesh Choudhary and Aabhas Rana (Bronze, Junior Boys +90 kg Left) are set to participate in the upcoming PPL Poonawalla Gold Edition II in Pune on November 28, 2026. This tournament, organized in collaboration with the Poonawalla Group, promises to be a prestigious event featuring top Indian and international arm wrestlers.
Jimmison Marwein led the youth category for India, earning a silver medal in Youth Men 65 kg. Other medalists included Aabhas Rana (Junior Boys +90 kg), Laithansanga (Youth Men -55 kg), Ajay Kumar (Youth Men 60 kg), and Vishnupriya P (Youth Women 80 kg), all of whom secured bronze medals. Sub-Junior Boys Aryan Singh (-45 kg), Yumnam Chingkhei Singh (50 kg), and Shane Salish (70 kg) also contributed to India's medal tally.