Arm-wrestling takes centre stage - 15th September 2023

Two Bollywood stars have given new life to arm-wrestling, an ancient sport in India. It's about to be televised.

The Indian Arm Wrestling Federation was created in 1977, but two big Bollywood actors, Parvin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani, are now involved. Their Pro Panja championship has had an enormous effect.

The competitors frequently come from ordinary backgrounds.

Parvin Dabas: "Our athletes are literally sons and daughters of our soil. Somebody is a government servant, somebody is a gym trainer, somebody is a mechanic, somebody is a farmer. They come from all walks of life and come from small-town India, and that's what we love about it, that's what the audience is getting attracted to."

Arm-wrestling or 'panja', as it's known in India, is a team sport, where the prize amounts to $24,000. According to the rules, men, women and people with disabilities all need to form part of the team.

In some parts of India, women are expected to have traditional roles. However, Farheen Dehalvi was supported by her husband to practise arm-wrestling. Now, young women respect and follow her.

Farheen Dehalvi: "Seeing me, girls are getting inspired. Now gyms have opened too, two gyms. Before I entered this league, we didn't even have gyms. Seeing me, two gyms have opened. We need to keep moving forward. It's very good, arm-wrestling."

In 2020 The Panja League was started, but for the first time, it'll be shown live on TV in India this season.

The sport, which has a long history with ancient Hindu mythology, has been reborn. And the Bollywood actors' magic has also brought stardom to the competitors themselves. Now, some are beginning to believe that arm-wrestling could be named an Olympic sport in future.