Union Sports Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse Visits 47th World Armwrestling & 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship 2026 in New Delhi; Extends Best Wishes to Athletes

Minister calls India’s first-ever hosting of the World Championship “a very big opportunity” and pledges to encourage armwrestling across the country

India currently leads its campaign with 58 medals, including 9 gold, 19 silver and 30 bronze across para, junior, youth and masters categories

Rakesh Thapliyal 

New Delhi, November 03, 2026: Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports and a Member of Parliament, visited the 47th World Armwrestling & 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship 2026, currently underway at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, New Delhi. Being held in India for the first time, the Championship runs from October 29 to November 6th, 2026, and has brought together more than 1,700 athletes, officials and supporters from over 60 countries, making it one of the largest international armwrestling events ever staged. The Championship is hosted by the People’s Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI), led by Ms. Preeti Jhangiani, President of PAFI and Vice President of the Asian Armwrestling Federation(AAF), along with Mr. Parvinn Dabass, Co-founder of the Pro Panja League, under the affiliation and guidance of the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF). Swen is the Official Streaming Partner, bringing every bout live to audiences across India and around the world.

During her visit, the Minister watched the bouts, interacted with athletes and officials, and conveyed her best wishes to all the participating nations, including India’s armwrestlers and para armwrestlers competing on home soil.

INDIA’S MEDAL TALLY: 58 MEDALS AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

India has secured an impressive 58 medals so far at the 2026 World Armwrestling & Para-Armwrestling Championships, comprising 9 gold, 19 silver and 30 bronze medals. The tally includes 26 medals in para categories, 20 across sub-junior, junior and youth categories, and 12 in masters and grand masters categories.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports and Member of Parliament, said, “For us it is a very big opportunity that India is hosting this 47th World Armwrestling & 28th Para World Armwrestling Championship 2026 competition. All the very best from my side to everyone here. I am trying to encourage this armwrestling competition in our India also. And thus through this, definitely we all together can make something good for our country also.”

The Minister’s visit adds to the strong institutional support the Championship has received since its formal inauguration on October 29, 2026, by Union Minister of Parliamentary & Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju and Member of Parliament Shri Anurag Singh Thakur. Hosting the 47th World Armwrestling & 28th Para Armwrestling Championship builds on India’s rapid rise 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 won 176 medals and finished second overall.

The momentum from the World Championship will carry into the upcoming Pro Panja League (PPL) Poonawalla Gold Edition II, to be held in Pune on November 28, 2026. Organised by PPL in partnership with the Poonawalla Group, the event will feature elite 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 continues until November 6th 2026, with world titles to be decided across able-bodied and para categories.