The Maharashtra Armwrestling Association (MAWA) and Samta Sporting Club Nagpur, under the aegis of the People’s Armwrestling Federation India, are set to host the 5th National Arm Wrestling and Para Arm Wrestling Tournament in Nagpur. The event will take place from June 7 to 9 at Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Civil Lines, Nagpur.
During a press conference, Dr. Shrikant Warankar, General Secretary of MAWA, announced that the tournament will feature categories for sub-junior, junior, youth, senior, and masters participants. Approximately 2000 competitors from various states, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, will take part in the competition.
The tournament will encompass 250 categories, providing a platform for players to demonstrate their skills. Additionally, 87 referees and 40 officials will be present to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. Over 100 international and professional players will also participate. The inauguration will be held on June 7 at 10:30 am, led by Preeti Jhangiani, President of the Maharashtra Armwrestling Association.
Dr. Warankar highlighted that the tournament will serve as a selection ground for the Indian teams participating in the World Championships in Moldova, Europe, and the Asian Championships in India in November. The Maharashtra team, with 108 members including 50 from Nagpur, aims to secure numerous medals. In the previous nationals in Mathura, Maharashtra clinched 21 medals, including 13 golds.
Renowned athletes such as Dara Singh Handa from Nagpur, who was the champion of champions in the earlier tournament, and Touhid Sheikh from Aurangabad will be competing, adding excitement to the event.