Fr om August 22 to August 25, the Russian Arm Wrestling Championship was held in Zelenograd at the sports and recreation center “Record”. The event featured 45 athletes from 13 regions across the country. As one of the most exciting and intense sporting competitions of the year, it brought together the strongest, most agile, and most resilient athletes in the nation. Nine sets of medals were awarded, along with team cups.
Arm wrestling is a form of martial arts. Competitions take place on specialized arm wrestling tables, wh ere athletes stand facing each other with their elbows resting on two armrests. The objective is to press the opponent’s hand down onto a roller on their side. Victory is awarded when any part of the opponent’s fingers, hand, or forearm touches the roller or crosses the imaginary horizontal line between the top edges of the rollers. Arm wrestling demands not only incredible physical strength but also refined technique, mental toughness, and unwavering psychological stability.
The opening ceremony of the 25th Russian Championship featured welcomes fr om Artyom Nesterov, a member of the OSFSG Board and Chairman of the Council of the All-Russian Board of Judges for Deaf Sports; Andrey Guba, senior coach of the Russian national arm wrestling team and an international and all-Russian category judge; and Vladimir Mordovin, coach of the Russian national arm wrestling team and an all-Russian category sports judge for the deaf.
Andrey Guba, senior coach of the Russian national arm wrestling team, stated: “We are pleased to welcome both experienced masters and talented young athletes who are just beginning their careers in professional arm wrestling. Competitions at this level are always a celebration of sport, wh ere each participant fights not only for victory but also for the respect of their rivals and the recognition of fans.”
Over two intense days of competition, athletes competed in nine weight categories: three for women (60, 70, 70+ kg) and six for men (60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 100+ kg). The first day featured left-hand matches, and the second day right-hand matches. The best of the best were determined by the highest total points scored across both arms.
During the closing ceremony, the president of the All-Russian Sports Federation of Deaf Sports welcomed all participants and thanked senior arm wrestling coach Andrey Guba for organizing the event. Finally, Dmitry Rebrov presented awards to the winners and runners-up.
In the team competition, the Chechen Republic emerged as the undisputed champion. Second place went to the Novosibirsk Region, and third place to the Moscow Region.
Text: Nurlan Tazhigulov, Maria Mazhenina
Photo: Anton Zelenin, Sofya Rumyantseva
Translation: Daria Kudelina
