Great Khali and Vijender Engage in Friendly Panja Face Off Mediated by Rajpal Yadav at Opening Ceremony of Pro Panja League Season 2

Vijender Singh and The Great Khali with Rajpal Yadav at the Opening Ceremony of Pro Panja League Season 2 in Gwalior. 

Rakesh Thapliyal

Gwalior: With the official announcement from Co-Founders Parvinn Dabass and Preeti Jhangiani bringing their Pro Panja Tournament to Gwalior City on August 4th, the following day saw the Co-Founders turning the volume up with the Pro Panja Season 2 official match commencement with their participants at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Training Centre for Disability Sports.

The Opening Ceremony event also marked the inaugural presence of Honourable Minister, Sports and Youth Welfare of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Vishvas Kailash Sarang, along with organising Committee Chairman Prabal Pratap Singh Tomar who graced the event alongside the star-studded attendance of the Great Khali and Vijender Singh, who came in to announce their Team Ambassador roles with Sher E Ludhiana and Rohtak Rowdies franchises. The event also saw the attendance of cinema icon Rajpal Yadav, showcasing support as a fun host for organising a short informal Panja exhibition between Vijender Singh and The Great Khali while showcasing excitement for all franchises including Mumbai Muscle, Kiraak Hyderabad, and MP Hathodas, boosting the crowd’s enthusiasm and energy in Tuesday’s competitive Undercard and Main Card category participation.

The Great Khali, who also has history with arm wrestling, particularly in a memorable match against Triple H, expressed excitement and good wishes for his team Sher E Ludhiana, sharing, “It is with great pride I can share that I have seen Sher E Ludhiana’s participants’ confidence grow through Pro Panja’s official event. My initial days were of participation in various arm wrestling bouts, and it is a journey where the competitor needs to grow strong both internally and externally. I am so proud that in India we have an official arm wrestling event like Pro Panja, boosting various strong Indians to make their strength official and reach out to various masses. And with Sher E Ludhiana, I can proudly say we have some very fine talents who can win this season.”

Talking about attending an elite event like the Pro Panja League, cinema icon Rajpal Yadav also shared, “I was completely amazed with how many participants have registered for the event, and to see them battle in an arm wrestling concept is a different ballgame. I would really like to congratulate the co-founders Parvinn Dabass and Preeti Jhangiani who have thought of giving a sport like arm wrestling a platform and motivating many participants from India to take up the sport. It’s really amazing and I encourage and empathize with the organizers to keep running the show.”

National boxing icon Vijender Singh, Team Ambassador of Rohtak Rowdies, also shared, “I feel privileged to be a Team Ambassador and officially a family member of the Rohtak Rowdies franchise. I have officially met every one of our participants and I can vouch they are truly going to surprise this season.”

Also adding appreciation and support for the Pro Panja tournament and other participants, Vijender Singh added, “It is inspiring to witness the strength of Indian athletes emerging across the nation, and thanks to a platform like Pro Panja, we are now officially going to be introduced to our nation’s and the world’s strongest athletes. Support goes to all participants who have shown their talent and determination on a platform like Pro Panja. And I only want for all our arm wrestling athletes to reach greater heights.”

With its exciting atmosphere and competitive spirit, the Pro Panja League, India’s professional arm wrestling league, is anticipated to captivate viewers in its upcoming Season 2. #HumsePanjaMatLena, #LagaPanja, and #BharatKaKhel catchphrases that encapsulate the essence of the sport will act as the event’s rallying cry. This season aims to boost the league’s prominence and impact through streaming partnerships with popular platforms like Sony Sports 3, DD Sports, FanCode, and SportVot (for those outside of India).