JERUSALEM / PNN /
Palestine’s top arm wrestlers are stepping up preparations for the upcoming World Arm-wrestling Championships in India, scheduled for Oct. 25 to Nov. 7, 2026, with several of the country’s leading competitors set to take part as they seek to raise Palestine’s flag on the international sporting stage.
Leading the Palestinian national team delegation is coach and Jerusalem native Avram Zanbil, who was crowned world champion in arm wrestling in 2022 at the championship held in Turkey. He also won two gold medals at the Asian Championships in December 2025.
Zanbil said preparations for the world championship are continuing despite the difficult circumstances and challenges facing Palestinian athletes, adding that the upcoming participation is aimed at representing Palestine and highlighting its presence on the global sporting map.
Joining Zanbil are several of Palestine’s leading arm wrestlers, including Mohammed Al-Dajani, the champion of Palestinian champions; Abdel Rahim Dar Atla from Salfit, who finished second at the Palestinian Champions Championship; as well as Thair Diab and Mohammed Awad.
Zanbil, a Palestinian arm-wrestling champion, said the Palestinian Armwrestling Federation, headed by Fares Hijazi, known as “Abu Nidal,” remains in constant contact with the national team and its athletes and is closely following their activities, preparations and upcoming competitions.
He explained that arm wrestling relies on specialized training and techniques, including the Top Roll, Supination and Hook, as well as exercises designed to strengthen specific parts of the arm and hand, such as the Riser and Cupping, using specialized training equipment.
Palestine has seen significant growth in the sport in recent years, Zanbil said, with a growing range of specialized training equipment helping raise athletes’ performance levels and prepare them for domestic and international competitions.
On the health and sporting side, Zanbil stressed the importance of practicing the sport without the use of steroids or hormones. He said he supports proper training and the use of permitted sports supplements, such as creatine, BCAA and EAA, while rejecting hormonal substances and performance-enhancing drugs that can cause serious harm to athletes’ health.
Palestine hosted its national arm-wrestling championship in June at Sofia Park, with support and sponsorship from Timax and Sofia Park. The tournament drew broad participation from Palestinian governorates and areas, including Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Salfit, Jenin and southern areas.
Zanbil said the expanding base of participants reflects the sport’s development in Palestine, expressing pride in the athletes who continue to train and compete despite the circumstances and challenges they face.
Zanbil said the ultimate goal is to continue developing a new generation of champions capable of competing abroad and representing Palestine at Arab, Asian and world championships, emphasizing the role of sport as an important platform for showcasing Palestine’s presence internationally.
This video was produced as part of the Media Support in Times of Crisis project, implemented by the Palestine Network in cooperation with the Palestine Journalism Hub.
Palestinian Arm Wrestlers Prepare for World Championships in India
Aggregated summary from an independent source. Read the original at PNN.