The world’s best armwrestlers are preparing to compete in New Delhi as India gets ready to host the 47th World Armwrestling Championship and the 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship from October 26 to November 7, 2026.
Organized under the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) and hosted by the People’s Armwrestling Federation of India (PAFI), the championships will bring together athletes, officials and supporters from more than 60 countries.
The event will feature both able-bodied and para-armwrestling competitions, putting India’s growing presence in the international armwrestling scene in the spotlight.
New Delhi to Host the World Championships
The championships will take place at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in New Delhi, which will serve as the main venue for the competition.
According to WAF’s official announcement, the event is expected to welcome more than 1,700 athletes, officials and supporters from across the world.
Hosting the World Championships represents a significant milestone for Indian armwrestling. The country has invested in developing the sport through domestic competitions and professional events, most notably the Pro Panja League.
India previously hosted the 2025 Asian Armwrestling and Para Armwrestling Championships. The event saw the Indian team win 176 medals and finish second overall, demonstrating the country’s growing competitive strength.
The upcoming World Championships will provide Indian athletes with another opportunity to compete against some of the strongest pullers in international armwrestling.
Para Armwrestling Will Also Take Centre Stage
Alongside the main World Armwrestling Championship, New Delhi will host the 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship.
The inclusion of para-athletes makes the event an important occasion for the sport beyond its traditional competitive divisions. Athletes will compete for international honours, representing their countries on one of armwrestling’s biggest stages.
The championships also reflect WAF’s continued commitment to developing para-armwrestling alongside the wider sport.
SWEN Named Official Streaming Partner
Fans who cannot attend the event in person will be able to follow the competition through SWEN, which has been named the official streaming partner for both championships.
The platform is scheduled to provide live and on-demand coverage, including the competition rounds and finals, giving international audiences access to the event.
The announcement is particularly significant for armwrestling fans who rely on online broadcasts to follow competitions outside their home countries.
With athletes travelling from across the globe, the championships offer an opportunity to bring greater international attention to the sport.
India’s Growing Role in International Armwrestling
India’s selection as host reflects its growing involvement in the international armwrestling community.
The Pro Panja League has helped raise the sport’s profile domestically, while international competitions hosted in the country have provided opportunities for Indian athletes to compete against foreign opposition.
PAFI President Preeti Jhangiani and Pro Panja League co-founder Parvinn Dabass have been involved in preparations for the championships alongside WAF officials.
WAF confirmed that an official inspection had been completed and that the necessary technical requirements for hosting the event had been met.
The championships will give the host nation an opportunity to showcase its organizational capabilities while welcoming competitors from dozens of countries.
When Will the Competition Begin?
The overall event runs from October 26 through November 7, 2026, with the main competition programme scheduled across the period.
The published programme includes masters, junior, youth, para and senior categories. The senior competition is scheduled for November 3–6, while para-armwrestling is scheduled for November 1–2.
SWEN is expected to stream the championships from October 29 onward.
As New Delhi prepares to welcome the international armwrestling community, the event will provide a major stage for athletes competing for world titles and give fans an opportunity to follow the sport’s leading national teams.
With participation expected from more than 60 countries, the 2026 World Armwrestling and Para Armwrestling Championships are set to be a major event on the international armwrestling calendar.
