The eighth edition of the Asian Arm-Wrestling Cup and the seventh edition of the Asian Para-Arm Wrestling Cup began on October 21 and will go on till October 26 in Mumbai.
Athletes and paraathletes from a variety of countries are contesting in the event. This renowned event has 350-400 international talent as well as more than 800+ Indian arm wrestlers.
Mr. Parvin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani, co-founders of the Pro Panja League (PPL), were also in attendance, as was the cast of the film “Khosla ka Ghosla,” which included renowned Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, Kiran Juneja, and Tara Sharma. The event’s major guests attended the tournament’s opening ceremony.
On the occasion, Anupam Kher said, “The way Parvin and Preeti have organised this event is commendable. The people that have turned up from Japan, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Thailand to take part in this game show that there is history to the sport and there is enough interest as well. It is also associated with the Paralympics, so it becomes even more important. The energy and grandeur with which this event has been organised, along with keeping India’s culture in mind with the dhols, it has made me very happy.”
Co-founder of Pro Panja League, Parvinn Dabass, said, “Athletes from 9-10 countries are here to take part for the event. It feels amazing to know that India has a strong following of arm wrestling. The effort we’ve put in the last few years is paying off. There are very few sports in the world in which the athletes and the para-athletes play on the same platform. This is one of those few sports. The professional league we’ve started, the Pro Panja League is one of the few leagues in the world in which men, women and specially-abled, everyone gets to play on the same platform. People talk about gender equality in terms of pay.
“In our league, since 2020, we offer the same pay to everyone. So, it’s a very proud feeling that this sport supports are inclusive and supports everyone. The idea of coming into arm wrestling and the Pro Panja League was to create a sense of community for athletes. The journey is ongoing and that has got a boost”, he concluded.
