New Delhi, Oct 29: India has opened its doors to the global armwrestling community as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and former Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championships 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday.
The prestigious tournament, being hosted in India for the first time, has attracted more than 1,700 athletes, officials and supporters representing over 60 countries. The opening ceremony took place at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in East Delhi, marking a significant moment for the growth of armwrestling in the country.
The event was organised by the People's Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI), led by its president Preeti Jhangiani and co-founder Parvinn Dabass,
under the guidance of the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF).
Several prominent figures from the international armwrestling community attended the inauguration, including WAF president Assen Hadjitodorov, general secretary Mircea Simionescu-Simicel and Asian Armwrestling Federation president Jeenbek Mukambetov. Representatives from national federations, including Armwrestling Australia president Phil Rasmussen, were also present.
Rijiju, Thakur Welcome International Athletes
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju welcomed the participating athletes and delegations, congratulating PAFI and its leadership for bringing the global championship to India.
He said the participation of athletes from more than 60 countries reflected the enthusiasm surrounding the sport and expressed India's pride in hosting the international competition.
Anurag Singh Thakur, Member of Parliament from Hamirpur and former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, also welcomed the participants, describing the championship as an important occasion for Indian sport.
Thakur congratulated the organisers and said efforts would be made to extend support to ensure a memorable experience for the athletes and officials visiting the country.
WAF president Assen Hadjitodorov joined the dignitaries in formally inaugurating the competition, which brings together elite armwrestlers and para-armwrestlers from across the world.
Pro Panja League Athletes Put on Exhibition
One of the major attractions of the opening ceremony was a special exhibition bout featuring Pro Panja League athletes Prasenjeet Patra and Amit Singh. The 20-minute contest gave international delegations and spectators a glimpse of India's growing professional armwrestling scene.
The Pro Panja League, which began its televised journey in 2023, has been working towards establishing armwrestling as a professional sport in India. The league also provides equal prize money and competitive opportunities to male, female and para-athletes.
PAFI president Preeti Jhangiani said hosting the World Championship was an important step forward after India successfully organised the Asian Championship last year.
She also highlighted the importance of providing para-athletes with equal recognition and opportunities, adding that the event represented a move towards a more inclusive sporting environment.
Pro Panja League co-founder Parvinn Dabass spoke about the transformation of armwrestling from a traditional recreational activity into an organised professional sport. He said the participation of athletes from over 60 countries demonstrated the growing international interest in the discipline.
Cultural Performances Mark Opening Ceremony
The inauguration also featured a series of cultural performances showcasing India's diversity. Traditional drummers and dancers from Kerala opened the celebrations, followed by performances representing different parts of the country.
The Parade of Nations saw participating countries march before the gathering, reflecting the international reach of the championship. The formal inauguration was marked by a ceremonial lamp-lighting attended by Rijiju, Thakur, Hadjitodorov, Jhangiani and Dabass, along with other representatives of the sporting fraternity.
The 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship will be held in New Delhi from October 29 to November 7, 2026, bringing together competitors from across the globe for 10 days of international competition.
