History of Arm Sports
History of Arm Sports
Ancient Origins
The roots of Arm Sports can be traced back thousands of years. Ancient evidence shows that a form of arm-strength competition existed in old civilizations. For instance, a painting found in an ancient Egyptian tomb (circa 2000 B.C.) shows people engaged in a type of arm-strength game.
Also, during the 1999 World Arm Sports Championships in Vladikavkaz, Russia, a bronze statue dating from the 16th century was found — demonstrating that what we now call “arm sports” (or “panja”) was practiced and respected long ago.
Modern Evolution
From Armwrestling to Arm Sports
n modern times, the organised sport we recognise today began under the name “Armwrestling”. The first global attempt to standardize the sport came when World Arm Sport Federation (WAF) was founded in 1967 by Bob O’Leary from the USA.However, in 1990 — during a general-body meeting of all national federations (with representatives from India including Bimal Kumar Chanda) — it was unanimously decided to rename the sport: rather than “Armwrestling”, globally it would be called “Arm Sports”. Consequently, subsequent international and national competitions adopted the name “World Arm Sport Championships” or simply “Arm Sports”.
First International Championships
The first WAF World Championship was held in 1979 in Weytaskwin (Alberta), Canada. Participating countries included the USA, Canada, Brazil, and India.
The second World Championship took place in 1980 in Calcutta, India; that year participants included India, Brazil, USA, Canada, and Australia.
Also in 1980, an International Arm Sports Championship was held in Perth, Australia — in which an Indian team of 10 participants competed.
Initially these competitions were in “sit-down” format, but later they changed to “stand-up” format.
What Makes Arm Sports Unique?
Unlike many sports, Arm Sports only requires a table — as per the World Federation’s specifications — so it can be held almost anywhere: indoor stadium, community halls, even roadside grounds (if covered appropriately).
The sport is played under a double-elimination system rather than a simple knockout — meaning a competitor must lose twice before being eliminated. This ensures fair chance to demonstrate true arm strength.
Age groups: Children, Youth, Seniors, Masters, Grand Masters, and Physically Challenged
Gender divisions: Men and Women
Weight classes, and also left/right hand divisions.
Structure of Federations & Competitive Framework
Like many other sports, Arm Sports operates under a hierarchical structure: from global (World) federation, to continental/regional federations, then national federations, down to state, zonal, regional associations and local clubs.
Competitions can range from club level, state-level, national-level to international championships. This structure helps players progress, and helps the sport grow sustainably with standardised rules, refereeing, and ranking systems.