Srinivas BV is a legend of Indian Para Armwrestling. The Specially abled Armwrestler has won numerous titles across India and internationally. In the most recently concluded Asian Armwrestling cup in 2024, he won four Gold Medals for India.
Srinivas is a multiple time National Gold Medalist and has won medals in international tournaments like Asian Championship, World Cup and world championship. Hailing from Bengaluru, Srinivas BV is also a top seed of Pro Panja League.
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He is currently competing for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers of the Pro Panja League. In the first season of Pro Panja League, he was on a terrific undefeated run.
The Sports India Show team had the opportunity to chat with Srinivas to talk about his Armwrestling career. The Bengaluru based armwrestler is also an avid biker. We discussed his passion for biking along with Armwrestling.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SRINIVAS BV
1) When did you start ArmWrestling?
I knew about armwrestling before I started armwrestling professionally I was participating in some events like non-technique, non-professional, private events for entertainment
I was participating in Armwrestling League, but I thought why not start professionally. Before that, I was seeing on social media that some Karnataka players are playing professionally.
They were participating in armwrestling championships and winning medals and trophies. I was seeing it on social media. I personally messaged some professional players, para players from different states on Instagram and Facebook. But they did not respond to my request. I was just asking them to give me the contact number of the federation.
So I want to start professionally. But some people neglected me. I don’t know what the reason is. Many times I requested them to give me the contact number of the main federation. They messaged me a lot in the past. But they didn’t give interest. I don’t know why they didn’t answer my question.
Somehow, before 2019, in 2019, I got a contact number of a person from Bangalore Armwrestling Federation. I messaged him. They knew me. I mean, I was doing bodybuilding before playing armwrestling. They knew me and gave me that number.
I contacted Deepak Singh in 2019. I trained for 3-4 months in Armwrestling. Then I participated in 2019 National Championship in Bhilai. It was my first National Championship match. I got 4th position in right hand.
I got silver medal in left hand. After that, my sir gave me a performance, Deepak Singh. You have a good potential to become a champion. You should do regular training. I will guide you. He took personal interest to train me. I also started putting effort with him. after that, i got silver medal in nationals then,
I got an opportunity to participate in the World Armwrestling Federation in 2019. Then I participated in the World Armwrestling Federation in Romania in 2019. I got 7th position in the right hand and 4th position in the left hand.
2) How has ArmWrestling changed your life?
Definitely, it has changed my life a lot. My life has underperformed. In 2019, when I participated in the world championships, I worked really hard. I spent a lot of time for my training and my nutrition and everything. Then I started participating in state championships. I lost a lot of times.
There were 1-2 strong para players in Karnataka. They were the main players. I lost many times. I didn’t get disappointed. This is common in sports. Win or loss is common. When you lose, at the same time, if you lose to a senior player, your life will change.
I worked very hard. My sir was also very interested in learning new techniques, how to use the table. He taught me a lot. Then I started winning. I defeated the main player of Karnataka State a couple of times. Then I became the number one player in Karnataka. After that, I participated in the National Armwrestling Championship.
I won a gold medal in Para Armwrestling Championship, so in Para category, specially abled category. Then along with that, I was thinking to myself and my friends, why can’t you participate in Abled category? I also thought, it’s okay if you lose the match, at least you can fight, you can try and see if you can fight with Able or not. I had started in the state before, my senior players in the Able category,
I played with him and won 1-2 matches with him. Then I got a lot of confidence. After that, I also played in the state. According to that, to participate in the Able category, I got a chance in the nationals. After that, I participated with this Able guy in Hyderabad. In the left hand, I won a gold medal. There were a lot of good competitors. I defeated him. There was a guy, Alan. He is from Assam and Meghalaya.
We were the final constituents. Final match, we were both in the left hand. I got him to hold it easily. That’s how people started recognizing me. Then a lot of people said, sir, you did well. So I got a lot of views.
Then So many people started recognizing me and believing in me. If I work harder, I will become a better player. After winning the nationals, I got a chance to participate in the World Championship in Turkey. After that, I participated in the World Championship. In the left hand, in the special able category, I became the world champion in the bronze medal.
I felt that it is very happy to become a bronze medalist in the world championship. So you need a lot of dedication and hard work. The more you work hard, the more success you will get. I have a habit that I take a commitment.
I don’t give up on anything I don’t give up to succeed in it otherwise I don’t take a commitment I give up first it’s not like you’ll get anything and you’ll do it I say give me 2 days time I’ll have to think after that I’ll think negative, positive, everything I have more positive points than negative I’ll try it I’ll see what’s in life I’ll see, Then I participated and got a lot of success.Armwrestling has changed me. People look at my physique and wonder how long I’ve been doing this. People don’t believe that I started professionally recently. I was a professional bodybuilder. I started in 2019 and people ask me how long I’ve been doing this.
My palm is good, my forearms are big. People have been saying that I have been lying for a long time. I used to look like this, but I was a professional armwrestling trainer in 2019. After playing, I have won many medals in nationals and states. I have won many COCs in state championships. After that, last year in Nagpur in 2024, the Nationals that took place in Nagpur, in the Specially Abled category, I also won the Champion of Champions title. I was so very happy. I felt that after working so hard, I had to get it. I worked very hard for it. Before that, I want to say that Armwrestlers need a proper training, proper technique and 100% dedication. If You will not put in 100% of your hard work you cant get success.
3) What are your thoughts on Pro Panja League?
No matter how much I say, it is still less. Pro Panja League has changed the lives of most of the armwrestling players in India. I can’t say that, but the normal people have become celebrities.
In India, the way armwrestling is thought that you are playing the match, it will be telecasted. Our parents, our friends, our sister brothers, can watch our match on TV? No one thought of that. Then Pro Panja League concept came to me.
For Pro Panja League, the selection meet for the top 18 players, I got a chance to participate. I participated in that. I was in the top two. I was a finalist. And with Chandan, who is a player from Odissa, he is a very strong player. So I had a match with him. I lost in that . But I was in second position. But it was a great tournament.
A lot of armwrestlers lives have been changed . So we can’t say there’s no words. After Pro Panja League came, so many people from all over the world, armwrestling players and other local people from America, all over India, all over the world recognized you.
I would like to say that all the league matches in India and the world, as any sports, like Kabaddi or badminton or cricket, all the league matches, I have never seen a physically challenged person being given an opportunity in any professional league.
Pro Panja League, Paraplayers, specially able category players, should also have a concept. They should also play a match and show their talent to the people. They should be an inspiration to the people. Paraplayers should make a stage for us. Even we didn’t think that we would get a chance.
Another important thing that I have seen in our payment system is that there is a lot of partiality in price money. For example, in the case of COC in bodybuilding. The prize money is 10,000 INR. There is a lot of partiality as COC in differently abled player gets only 1000. But in Pro Panja League its not like this whether the player is male female or specially abled all are treated equally in Everything. We stayed in Propanja season 1. There was a lot of training. The coaches from outside came here to teach us the technique. We stayed in Pro Panja season 1 to learn about the game. Especially for the players. The Pro Panja League team did not lessen anything. So, I remember that for a lifetime.
I have done a lot in athletics and bodybuilding before armwrestling. I have seen a lot of partiality, hundred percent, a lot. So, I can’t say directly, but there is a lot of partiality, for, the able and special able category. So, in seeing, giving and everything. But thye Pro Panja League team didn’t do that. So, It there was equal share. Everything is equal. So, I want to thank the Pro Panja League team. Parvinn Dabass Sir , Preeti Jhangiani ma’am.
So, It’s a great opportunity, especially for the players. Thank you very much.
4) How are you preparing for the Asian Championship taking place in May?
I’m preparing very well. So, now recently I participated in Pro Panja League event in Bangalore. After this, I’m taking some rest for 2-3 weeks to recover. Definitely, I’m going to start my workout, It’s very aggressive.
Very neatly, my sir told me about the weaknesses points and I am working on that. So, this is not the first time participating in the championship. I participated in the Asian Championship Cup in Uzbekistan. I won two gold medals. And again, the second Asian Cup that was held in Mumbai last year.
I participated in that as well. I won two medals in that as well. I am not negotiating it, but I am working at the same. I am working very hard. I will work hard. My hope is that I will win a medal in the Asian Championship as well. I am not overconfident, but every athlete has to prepare very well.
So in arm wrestling, you can’t say as anything can happen. You can’t say who will beat you. But you should be very careful in the proper training, proper technique. You need a lot of dedication. I’m working hard on it. So my workout schedule is I’ll spend around two and a half, three hours in the gym for arm wrestling training every day. And mainly, I’m focusing on my diet and nutrition also. So, very well the main key is your nutrition so I’m focusing on my diet and also I’m preparing well so i hope definitely I’m going to win again the nation medal in May.
5) You are also very much interested in riding bikes. Pls tell us how did you get interested in that?
Okay, so I had no idea about riding. I have a Royal Enfield Classic 350, which I purchased in 2015.
I purchased it by accident. In 2015, there was a new edition of Classic 350, white color. I used to work in a gym. It’s location is Banagherta Road. I parked it in the basement. It was white color. I was just looking at the car. The owner of the car came downstairs.
I was just asking about the performance of the bike. Sir, how is it? How much mileage does it have? How much power does it have? Is it good or bad? How is the riding comfort and all? After that, he told me one thing at the end. You guys can’t ride . I got so angry. I mean, I couldn’t control myself. Still, I was very silent.
I didn’t react to it. Then I thought for a week, I have won so many medals in bodybuilding and athletics. If you say that in front of me, no one can say such thing .
Then I had two scooties with side wheels, the professional side wheels scooter in Bangalore. I called him and told him. I also talked to him in the showroom. I enquired about the Classic 350. I had asked that if they provide alteration for specaillhy abled I talked to him and told him that I am thinking of buying a classic 350. I have a problem with both my legs. I can’t apply brake or change the gear from both the legs. Can i do the riding ?
You can ride, We will give you full control in your hand. Then after that, I took it. I had to think 2-3 times. I didn’t tell my mom at home that I am taking it. I had to show it to her.
I took so much confidence, as if I had bought a bike. I took it for the alteration. Then the vehicle was ready. After that, I never ride a gear vehicle before . I didn’t even know how to release the clutch, how to put the gear. After the alteration, the car was ready. From the center of the alteration, I had to travel almost 60-70 km for my home.
He taught me how to apply the gear. I knew how to balance a 3 wheeler. But I didn’t know how to apply the gear and release the clutch. After that, he taught me how to release the clutch and apply the gear for an hour. Then I left for home. It was so difficult. In the first and second gear, I rode for 17 kilometers. It was very horrible.
After that, it was very difficult for me. I struggled for a month to gain control. I thought in between that I didn’t want to buy a bike. Then I went on a long ride. A friend told me to go on a long ride in one gear. You will get used to it. I went on a long ride. It’s called Bangalore to Mysore.
It was a highway, national highway. I went, coming from there, I met in a very bad accident. I mean, I hit a car in an accident. Then my bullet got upside, its handle got damaged, tire, petrol tank got damaged.
My fingers got skin peeled. Then I left for the service station. I want to tell you an incident. I started riding in another state. When I had a bike accident, I went to leave the service. I met a man there. His name is Yuvraj. He was a professional rider. He was very inspired after seeing my bike.
He said, how long have you been riding? I said, recently. He said, are you interested in riding in Goa? I said, yes, recently. He said, next month we have a plan to ride in Goa. It’s a big team, a riding team. Are you interested to come?
Then I thought, give me 2-3 days, I have never been abroad, I will have to ask my family. Then I asked my mom, I want to go to Goa by bike. My friends are asking me to come, so I went. My mom, she gave me a week. I had an accident earlier, I had some damage, I had some skin in my fingers, just a spill, nothing else.
Then I went to my mom. She said, OK, nothing to say. Whatever you do, do it well. It won’t be fun. But be careful. Then I said OK to the rider for the group. I said yes.
Then they advised to buy some riding suits and helmets and everything. Then I didn’t have that much money to buy it at that time, but somehow I arranged it from someone. Then I have to leave tomorrow morning. The one who invited me for riding, I told him to other friends. He is a physically challenged.
So he wants to ride to Goa with us. I told the main captain. Then he told him that we are good. We are 650-670 km from Bangalore. We can’t ride anything extra. It’s physically challenging. How can we ride? Tell him to say no. We don’t want to come to Goa this time. I got everything ready and sent him the photo which he had invited me.
I messaged him in the night, everything is ready, I am ready, believe or not, let me know. I have to leave by tomorrow. I messaged him. Before that, I informed him not to bring the other group. Then I sent him a photo. He didn’t get an option to refuse me.
Then he said, ok, come at 3 or 3.30, come to my stall Those people who invited me, they told the captain You guys ride to Goa, I will come with him, I will follow him, don’t worry But I started the first ride in 2016 to Goa, from Bangalore to Goa
The ride that I did, people were shocked to see it I maintained the same speed that they were maintaining Then they were really shocked I did such a ride, from there I used to go, every year in Goa there is one event that happens every year in Royal Enfield in Goa, in Vagatur
So, I was going there every year. Almost 3 years I participated in the event. But here in the local area, in Karnataka, there are a lot of temples from Bangalore to 250-300 km outside the station. For nationaIs I went from Bangalore to Hyderabad by bike.
So it was a very good experience. Someone challenged me to ride a bike and I did it.
Which are the places that you have done biking in?
I visited the many places ranging from Bangalore to the rural parts of Karnataka. So there’s almost a stretch in one, 350 kilometers, one stretch. Every weekend, we used to plan. Other states, almost three to four times, I visited through bike. And other states, I went to Hyderabad for my national arm wrestling championship in 2019. I went through bike. So it was a very good experience.
