Uttar Pradesh Shines at 48th National Arm Wrestling Championship in Srinagar with 64 Medals

Lucknow : Players from Uttar Pradesh brought laurels to the state with a stellar show at the 48th National Arm Wrestling Championship, held in Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir from October 2 to 5, 2026. The event was organised by the Arm Sports Association of Jammu and Kashmir under the aegis of the Indian Arm Wrestling Federation, and drew more than 700 athletes from across the country.

Manoj Verma, President of the Arm Wrestling Association of Uttar Pradesh, said an 84-member squad represented the state at the national-level event. Thanks to their exceptional performance, the team secured 64 medals. The girls' category finished first in the country, while the boys' category took second place, raising the state's flag high on the national stage.

General Secretary Shahbaz Ali credited the historic success mainly to the able leadership and guidance of team coaches Mohammad Shadab, Saurabh Tripathi and Abhishek. He said their strategy and rigorous training helped the athletes reach this milestone.

On the players' return home, Manoj Verma and Shahbaz Ali gave a warm and grand welcome to all the winners and participants. They patted the athletes on the back, wished them a bright future and encouraged them to keep working hard for even bigger achievements in the coming years.

Speaking on the occasion, the association's office-bearers said the victory marks the beginning of a new era for arm wrestling in Uttar Pradesh. They expressed hope that the success would inspire more young sportspersons, especially girls, to take up the sport and pursue it seriously at the state and national levels.

Officials added that the association will continue to focus on identifying new talent, organising regular training camps and providing better facilities to athletes. With the strong showing in Srinagar, they said, the state team is now looking ahead to future national and international competitions, with the aim of winning more medals for Uttar Pradesh and India.

(R.L.Pandey)