India wins 20 medals at World Armwrestling Championships 2026 in New Delhi
Synopsis
India's armwrestlers made history on home soil — the 47th World Armwrestling Championships arrived in India for the first time, and the hosts responded with 20 medals across five age divisions, finishing fourth overall. With 128 athletes placing in 90 of 101 finals, the result is less a one-off podium moment and more a signal of genuine depth in a sport that is rapidly finding its professional footing in India.
Key Takeaways
India won 4 gold, 2 silver and 14 bronze medals across the first two days of the 47th World Armwrestling Championships 2026 in New Delhi .
India finished fourth overall, behind Russia , Kazakhstan and Türkiye .
Jincymol Sebastian was the top performer, winning gold in both arms in the Grand Master Women's 80kg category.
The championships are being held in India for the first time , with over 1,700 athletes from more than 60 countries competing.
128 Indian athletes recorded 154 placings across 90 of the 101 finals contested, reflecting India's depth across five age groups.
Right-arm Sub-Junior, Junior and Youth finals are scheduled for 31 October ; live streaming available on Swen .
Indian armwrestlers delivered a strong collective performance at the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championships 2026 in New Delhi, securing four gold, two silver and 14 bronze medals across the first two days of finals on 29 and 30 October. The haul placed India fourth in the overall medal standings, behind Russia, Kazakhstan and Türkiye.
The championships are being held in India for the first time, with more than 1,700 athletes from over 60 countries competing. The event is hosted by the People's Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI) under the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF).
Inauguration and Key Officials
The championships were inaugurated in the presence of Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Hamirpur MP and former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur. International dignitaries including WAF president Assen Hadjitodorov, WAF general secretary Mircea Simionescu-Simicel, Asian Armwrestling Federation president Jeenbek Mukambetov and Armwrestling Australia president Phil Rasmussen also attended.
Masters Contingent Leads the Charge
India's Masters division drove the bulk of the medal tally on 29 October, collecting four gold, one silver and seven bronze medals. Jincymol Sebastian was the standout performer, winning gold in both the left and right arms in the Grand Master Women's 80kg category. Yogesh Choudhary claimed gold in the Master Women's +80kg right-arm event and bronze in the left-arm competition. Shoukath VT won gold in the Master Men's -60kg right-arm category and bronze in the left arm.
Minimol Jose took silver and Preetha C claimed bronze in the Grand Master Women's +80kg right-arm event, while Priya Payyan Kunhiveettil and Mini K each added two bronze medals in their respective categories.
Youth and Junior Athletes Add to the Tally
The younger age groups contributed eight medals in the left-arm finals on 30 October. Jimmison Marwein won silver in the Youth Men's 65kg category. Bronze medals went to Aabhas Rana (Junior Boys +90kg), Laithansanga (Youth Men -55kg), Ajay Kumar (Youth Men 60kg) and Vishnupriya P (Youth Women 80kg). Sub-Junior wrestlers Aryan Singh (-45kg), Yumnam Chingkhei Singh (50kg) and Shane Salish (70kg) also earned bronze.
Notably, 128 Indian athletes recorded 154 placings across 90 of the 101 finals contested, with 17 competitors finishing fourth — underlining India's depth across five age divisions, from sub-juniors to grand masters.
What Comes Next
The right-arm Sub-Junior, Junior and Youth finals are scheduled for 31 October, with live coverage on Swen, the championship's official streaming partner. Beyond the event, Yogesh Choudhary and Aabhas Rana are set to compete in the Pro Panja League's Gold Edition II in Pune on 28 November, organised in partnership with the Poonawalla Group. This result reinforces India's expanding footprint in international armwrestling and signals a growing pipeline of competitive talent at the professional level.
Point of View
But the more revealing figure is 128 athletes placing across 90 of 101 finals — that is breadth, not just depth. India's armwrestling story is no longer about isolated podium moments; it is about a sport building a professional infrastructure, from PAFI's international hosting credentials to the Pro Panja League's corporate partnerships. The fourth-place finish behind Russia, Kazakhstan and Türkiye — nations with long-established wrestling cultures — is respectable but also an honest benchmark. The real test will come in the right-arm finals on 31 October, where the youth and junior categories could yet shift the medal count and the narrative.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many medals did India win at the 2026 World Armwrestling Championships?
India won 20 medals — 4 gold, 2 silver and 14 bronze — across the first two days of finals at the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championships 2026 in New Delhi. More medals are possible as the right-arm finals for Sub-Junior, Junior and Youth categories are scheduled for 31 October.
Where does India rank in the 2026 World Armwrestling Championships medal table?
India finished fourth in the overall medal standings after the first two days of finals. Russia, Kazakhstan and Türkiye were placed ahead of India in the standings.
Who were India's top performers at the World Armwrestling Championships 2026?
Jincymol Sebastian was the standout, winning gold in both arms in the Grand Master Women's 80kg category. Yogesh Choudhary and Shoukath VT also won gold medals in their respective Master categories, with several youth and sub-junior athletes adding bronze medals.
Is this the first time India has hosted the World Armwrestling Championships?
Yes, the 47th World Armwrestling Championships in New Delhi mark the first time India has hosted the event. More than 1,700 athletes from over 60 countries are participating.
What happens after the World Armwrestling Championships 2026?
Following the championships, Yogesh Choudhary and Aabhas Rana are scheduled to compete in the Pro Panja League's Gold Edition II in Pune on 28 November, organised in partnership with the Poonawalla Group. The event is expected to feature leading Indian and international armwrestlers.
