Daijiworld Media Network - Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Jun 3: Kerala successfully defended its title to emerge as the overall champion at the 4th National Armwrestling and Para-Armwrestling Championship, finishing with the highest medal tally for the second consecutive year.
The championship was organised by the Armwrestling Sports Association Gujarat under the guidance of the People’s Armwrestling Federation India (PAFI), with key support from association officials Rajendrasinh Parmar and Mayank Patel.
One of the biggest highlights of the event was the exceptional performance of Yuvraj Verma, who secured the coveted Senior Men's Champion of Champions title. After winning the 110 kg category, Yuvraj went on to defeat champions from multiple weight divisions, including Denic Lalruattluanga, Vethozo Lohe and Aabhas Rana, to claim the overall crown. He also completed a double triumph by capturing gold medals in both the right-hand and left-hand 110 kg events.
In the women's competition, Madhura Hassan was crowned Women's Champion of Champions after overcoming K. Lalhriatpuii of Mizoram in the final showdown.
The tournament also witnessed several notable upsets and breakthrough performances. Rising star Aabhas Rana, just 18 years old, stunned the armwrestling community by defeating the previously unbeaten Mazahir Saidu in the 100 kg final, ending the veteran's long reign at the top.
Another standout performer was Kerala's Joshya J, who claimed gold in the women's division after overcoming two of the country's leading competitors, Yogesh Chaudhary and Nirmal Devi.
Reflecting on the success of the championship, PAFI President and Asian Armwrestling Federation Vice President Preeti Jhangiani praised the athletes and the growing standards of the sport in India. She said the event highlighted both the strength of established champions and the emergence of a new generation of talent, underlining the rapid growth and competitiveness of Indian armwrestling.
The championship brought together top athletes from across the country and further strengthened armwrestling's position as one of India's fastest-growing competitive sports.