India has secured 20 medals at the 2026 World Armwrestling Championships in New Delhi, including four gold, two silver and 14 bronze, finishing fourth overall.
Indian armwrestlers have delivered a strong performance at the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championships 2026 in New Delhi, winning 20 medals during the first two days of finals.
India's medal haul includes four gold, two silver and 14 bronze medals, placing the country fourth in the overall standings. Russia, Kazakhstan and Türkiye are ahead of India in the rankings.
The championships are being hosted in India for the first time and have attracted more than 1,700 athletes representing over 60 countries.
The Indian contingent secured medals across different age groups and weight categories during the opening two days of finals.
The competition is being organised by the People's Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI) under the aegis of the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF).
India's Masters athletes delivered the strongest performance on October 29, collecting 12 medals, including four gold, one silver and seven bronze.
Jincymol Sebastian was among India's leading performers, claiming gold medals in both arms in the Grand Master Women's 80kg category.
Yogesh Choudhary also secured a gold medal in the Master Women's +80kg right-arm event and added a bronze in the left-arm competition.
In the men's category, Shoukath VT won gold in the Master Men's -60kg right-arm event and followed it up with bronze in the left-arm contest.
Minimol Jose earned silver, while Preetha C won bronze in the Grand Master Women's +80kg right-arm category. Priya Payyan Kunhiveettil and Mini K contributed two bronze medals each in their respective events.
Indian athletes continued their medal-winning performance during the left-arm finals held on October 30, adding eight medals to the country's tally.
Jimmison Marwein secured silver in the Youth Men's 65kg category. Aabhas Rana, Laithansanga, Ajay Kumar and Vishnupriya P won bronze medals in their respective divisions.
The Sub-Junior competitors also contributed to India's overall performance. Aryan Singh, Yumnam Chingkhei Singh and Shane Salish each secured bronze medals.
These results underline India's participation across several age groups, from emerging young competitors to experienced Masters athletes.
Apart from the 20 medals, India's broader performance at the championship has also been notable. A total of 128 Indian athletes recorded 154 placings across 90 of the 101 finals contested. Additionally, 17 Indian competitors finished in fourth place.
The championship features five age divisions, ranging from Sub-Junior and Junior to Youth, Masters and Grand Masters categories. Indian athletes have participated across these divisions, demonstrating the country's presence at different levels of the sport.
The international championship is also providing Indian competitors with an opportunity to gain exposure ahead of professional armwrestling events.
Yogesh Choudhary and Aabhas Rana are scheduled to participate in the Pro Panja League's Gold Edition II, which will take place in Pune on November 28.
The tournament is being organised by the Pro Panja League in association with the Poonawalla Group. It is expected to bring together leading Indian and international armwrestlers.
The competition continues on October 31, with right-arm finals scheduled in the Sub-Junior, Junior and Youth divisions.
These events will cover boys', girls', men's and women's categories. Fans can follow the championship through live coverage on Swen, the tournament's official streaming partner.
Conclusion
India's 20-medal performance at the World Armwrestling Championships 2026 marks an encouraging result for the country's presence in the sport. Strong performances from Masters competitors, along with contributions from younger athletes, have helped India secure fourth place in the standings. With more finals scheduled in New Delhi, the Indian contingent will have further opportunities to improve its medal tally.