Mumbai, 11 May (H.S.): The People’s Arm Wrestling Federation India (PAF‑I) and Pro Panja League announced on Monday that para arm wrestling has fulfilled the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)’s global participation criteria for inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. The organisations expressed “great joy” at the news, marking a major milestone in the sport’s journey towards becoming a Paralympic discipline.

After the World Arm Wrestling Federation submitted additional participation statistics, the IPC confirmed that para arm wrestling now counts more than 32 nations in regular and broad‑based competition. This threshold satisfies the IOC/IPC‑linked requirement for a sport to be considered for inclusion in the Paralympic programme. The achievement is being hailed as a critical step toward the sport’s possible debut at the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics, provided the formal application and review process goes through successfully.

In India, the development is being seen as especially significant, as the country already hosts a strong and rapidly emerging talent pool in para arm wrestling. Over the last few years, PAF‑I and the Pro Panja League have worked consistently to build a professional platform for athletes with disabilities, integrating the para category into mainstream events and creating structured competition pathways.

Across both seasons of the Pro Panja League and in various mega events hosted in different parts of India, the para arm wrestling division has been given a dedicated space. This has allowed athletes such as Chandan Kumar Behra, Butta Singh, Srinivas BV, Mohan Sharma and Arvind Rajak to display their skills at the national level and gain visibility on a professional stage.

Parveen Dabas, co‑founder of Pro Panja League, said: “This is not just a historic moment for global arm wrestling, but also for India. Through Pro Panja and the mega tournaments held across the country, we have seen fantastic talent in the para category. From the beginning, we believed para arm wrestling deserves equal recognition and opportunity, which is why we have included it in every season. If the sport becomes part of the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics, India will have a strong chance to win multiple medals.”

Preeti Jangiani, president of People’s Arm Wrestling Federation India and vice‑president of the Asian Arm Wrestling Confederation, added: “India has long been a hub for para‑sports talent, and arm wrestling is no exception. We have received an excellent response from para wrestlers across the country. The IPC’s recognition reflects the sport’s global growth and motivates us to create even more opportunities for para athletes in India. With the right support and platforms, we are confident that Indian athletes can become world champions in this discipline.”

The completion of the international benchmark now sets the stage for formal representation of para arm wrestling in future Paralympic applications, with India positioned as a key player in the sport’s push toward the Brisbane 2032 programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar