Over 550 Athletes Compete in UP Arm Wrestling Championship 2026

Bareilly : The Madhavrao Scindia Public School in Bareilly became the epicenter of strength and grit as the Uttar Pradesh State Arm Wrestling Championship 2026 officially kicked off. The prestigious two-day tournament has witnessed an overwhelming response, drawing over 550 power-packed athletes representing more than 40 districts across the state, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Ghaziabad.

The grand event was inaugurated by Dr. Saurabh Kumar Agarwal, President of the Arm Wrestling Association of Bareilly. Prominent sports dignitaries, including Manoj Verma (President) and Shavez Ali (Secretary) of the Arm Wrestling Association of Uttar Pradesh, also graced the occasion to motivate the participants.

According to Mohd. Akmal Khan, Secretary of the Bareilly association, the opening day successfully concluded intense face-offs in the entire female division, Sub-Junior boys' categories, and the veteran Master and Grand Master segments.

Day 1 Spotlight: The Champions Board
The first day belonged to the rising stars and seasoned masters who dominated the tables with their technical superiority. Here are the standout gold medalists from Day 1:

Sub-Junior Boys (Right Hand Champions): Jay (U-35kg), Sundar (U-40kg), Aryan (U-45kg), Ayan Qureshi (U-50kg), Deepak (U-55kg), Zeeshan (U-60kg), Prince (U-65kg), Anand (U-70kg), and Aarav (70+kg).

Sub-Junior Boys (Left Hand Champions): Mohammad Muzz (U-40kg), Virat (U-50kg), Zain (U-55kg), and Mohammad Azlan (U-70kg).

Special & Veteran Categories: Shaurya clinched gold in the Open division, Yog topped the U-45kg bracket, and Dr. Punit Manishi secured the gold in the highly anticipated Masters category.

Girls' Division Gold Standard: Exceptional performances came from Humaira Warsi (Sub-Junior U-45kg), Rakhi Nishad (Youth U-50kg), Zoya Khan (Junior U-45kg), Rajni Chahar (Senior U-80kg), and Anchal Tomar (Senior U-55kg) among others.

The Road to Kashmir Nationals
The stakes are incredibly high for the competitors. The gold and silver medalists from this state championship will secure a direct ticket to represent Uttar Pradesh at the upcoming National Arm Wrestling Championship, scheduled to take place in Kashmir in October 2026.

Day two promises even higher drama and raw power, with the Junior, Youth, and Senior boys preparing to lock hands in both left and right-hand categories. Organizers and guests have extended their best wishes to the athletes, celebrating the growing popularity of the sport in the state.