New Delhi, November 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India finished its first-ever hosting of the World Armwrestling Championship with a haul of 59 medals, including nine gold, 19 silver and 31 bronze, at the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship 2026 in New Delhi.
The competition, held from October 29 to November 6, brought together more than 1,700 athletes, officials and supporters from over 60 countries. Russia topped the overall standings, followed by Kazakhstan and Turkey.
India’s para athletes contributed 26 medals — two gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze — placing the country fifth in the para medal table. Sub-junior, junior and youth competitors added 20 medals, while masters and grand masters secured 12. India also won one bronze in the senior category.
Among the Indian performers, Jincymol Sebastian claimed gold in both arms in the Grand Master Women’s 80 kg category. Yogesh Choudhary and Shoukath VT each won right-arm gold and left-arm bronze. Madhura K N secured bronze in the senior women’s 70 kg right-arm event.
Six athletes won senior gold medals on both arms: Melek Celik and Esra Kiraz of Turkey, Ulbossyn Elmurat and Yerdualet Nurmakhan of Kazakhstan, and Irina Driaeva and Tengizi Natsvlishvili of Georgia.
The closing ceremony was held on Friday at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in East Delhi. Among those present were Costa Rica’s Ambassador Néstor Gabriel Baltodano Vargas, Romania’s Ambassador Sena Latif and Georgia’s Ambassador Vakhtang Jaoshvili.
The championship was hosted by the People’s Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI) under the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF).
Charles Osei Asibey, President of the Armwrestling Federation of Africa and Vice President of WAF, praised India’s hosting arrangements, hospitality and spectator support.
PAFI President Preeti Jhangiani, who is also Vice President of AAF and Co-founder of Pro Panja League, said Indian athletes had made the country proud by competing on home soil. Pro Panja League Co-founder Parvinn Dabass described hosting the championship as a milestone for the sport in India.
The next World Armwrestling Championship will be held in Canada. Meanwhile, India’s Pro Panja League Poonawalla Gold Edition II is scheduled to take place in Pune on November 28, featuring World Championship medallists Yogesh Choudhary, Harkomal Singh Gill and Aabhas Rana.
FOLLOW NOW
