India finished the first-ever home Armwrestling World Championship, the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship 2026 in New Delhi, with 59 medals: nine gold, 19 silver and 31 bronze.
Para athletes contributed 26 medals, with two gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze, placing India fifth on the para medal table. The championship ran from 29 October to 6 November, with the closing report published on Saturday, 7 November.
Russia finished overall champions, Kazakhstan second and Turkey third. More than 1,700 athletes from over 60 countries took part in the event.
A first on home soil
Hosting the World Championship for the first time was a milestone for the sport in India. The event was hosted by the People's Armwrestling Federation of India under the World Armwrestling Federation.
A 59-medal haul on home soil shows how far the sport has grown in the country. The para tally of 26 medals is a particularly strong result, with India finishing fifth on the para table.
Para athletes lead the way
The para contingent's 26 medals included two golds, and their fifth-place finish on the para medal table was one of the highlights of the championship for India.
Para armwrestling has grown steadily in India, and a home World Championship gave the athletes a stage in front of home crowds.
Next stop Canada
The next championship moves to Canada, where India will look to build on the Delhi result. A 59-medal haul sets a high bar for the next edition.
For the sport in India, the Delhi championship was both a showcase and a test, and the medal tally suggests it passed both.
