How has Panja transformed arm wrestling? Insights from Preeti Jhangiani on PPL's Growth

Gwalior, Aug 5 (NationPress) In just a single season, the Pro Panja League, India's franchise armwrestling league, has surpassed an impressive 1.2 billion views across various social media platforms. As the highly anticipated season 2 is set to commence at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Training Centre for Disability Sports on Tuesday, the excitement surrounding Panja has taken the city of Gwalior by storm, with a large turnout of fans expected.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, co-founder of the PPL and president of the People’s Armwrestling Federation of India, Preeti Jhangiani, shared insights on the surging popularity of the sport, what fans can look forward to in PPL season 2, and hinted at a forthcoming Pro Panja event in the United Kingdom.

“Arm wrestling was once known globally in its traditional form, but today, it is recognized as Panja. This transformation is a result of our dedicated efforts over the years. It hasn’t occurred overnight; it’s taken extensive research not only into arm wrestling but also into the business and sporting aspects of leagues. While many leagues have emerged, the sustainability of those leagues will depend on where the viewership lies,” Preeti stated.

“I take pride in the fact that our inaugural season attracted 32 million unique viewers. Very few leagues can boast such figures in their first season. In addition, our social media presence has amassed over 1.2 billion views across platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, which is quite significant,” she added.

PPL Season 2 has selected the picturesque city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, as its venue for the upcoming season, following the successful first season. This choice aligns with the league’s strategy to enhance sports engagement across India and make the tournament accessible at iconic Indian locations, thus fostering event partnerships and attracting sporting talent. The decision to host Season 2 in Gwalior was likely influenced by the venue's successful history with the Pro Panja Ranking Tournament in 2022.

As the second season draws near, Preeti elaborated on what fans can expect. “Fans can look forward to lots of fun, exhilarating matches, along with some highly competitive and aggressive encounters. Additionally, there will be plenty of entertainment and enjoyment. We’ve established Panja not only as a legitimate sport but also as an exciting and thrilling spectacle,” she remarked.

Recently, a week-long sports delegation visit by FICCI’s Sports Committee to the UK led to several meaningful interactions. The delegation aimed to strengthen sporting ties between India and the UK, bringing together key stakeholders from both nations' sports sectors.

When asked about these discussions, Preeti revealed promising talks and hinted at a Pro Panja event in the UK on the horizon. “As a member of FICCI Sport in India, chaired by P.K. S.V. Sagar of GMR Group, we had excellent collaborations and discussions regarding partnerships between Manchester and India. Exciting developments are on the way, and you will soon see something significant related to Pro Panja in the UK,” she concluded.