Pro Panja League 2020 Athlete profile: Siddharth Malakar

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The inaugural Pro Panja League is set to take place at the Thyagraj Stadium in New Delhi on 29th February 2020.

The best arm wrestlers in India are going to take part in this tournament. Arm Wrestlers from every nook and corner of the country will touchdown in the national capital for the prestigious Pro Panja League.

The registrations for this event is ongoing and can be done here. On spot, registrations for the tournament can be done on 28th February at the venue. The tournament will begin at 4:30 pm and the entry for the event is free.

Ahead of the tournament, official partner Sports India Show reached out to the Gold and Silver medalists from the 2019 Nationals so that our readers have full information about the top Arm Wrestlers competing in the PPL.

The event begins on

Siddharth Malakar and Pro Panja League

For this profile, Sports India Show interviewed Siddharth Malakar, who won a Silver medal (right arm) and Gold medal (left arm) in the Nationals last year.

1.) What’s your name, age and where do you come from?

My name is Siddharth Malakar, I am 27 years old and I come from Guwahati, Assam.

2.) Which weight category do you compete in and which is your competing arm?

I am competing with both my arms. I competed with both my arms in Nationals as well. So both of my arms are dominant and I got a silver medal in the right arm in the 2019 nationals and gold medal in the left arm.

Usually, I compete at below 85kg category, but this year I will probably be competing in the 90kg category.

3.) When did you decide that you want to become a professional athlete in arm wrestling? which was your first arm wrestling tournament?

All credit goes to Mr Pran Pratim Chaliha (Treasurer Indian arm wrestling federation), who got me into arm-wrestling when I was playing during my college week. So he was interested in taking me to the professional level. so he took me eventually and then I met lof of athletes who competed professionally in gyms in Guwahati. So I took admissions in those gyms and started playing professionally.

My first arm wrestling tournament was in 2015. That year the nationals took place in Bazpur, Uttarakhand.

4.) Do you enjoy the sport?

I enjoy the sport very much. It was more of a hobby for me and I didn’t think it would turn into a profession. I work as a physiotherapist and it is my day job. I liked arm-wrestling ever since I was a little kid, but I never knew that it was also played professionally. So when I learned the opportunity it offered as a professional, I dedicated myself to the sport.

I left all the other sports like Cricket and football for Arm Wrestling. I completely drowned myself in arm wrestling and it started to pay off (medal in nationals). Now I don’t think I can quit this sport as this has become an addiction.

5.) What is your goal in arm wrestling? Is there any arm wrestler that you admire?

I want to be a world champion someday. My favourite is Alexey Ivanovich Voyevoda (2004 WAF world champion).

6.) If there is one Bollywood character that you most relate to, who would that be and why?

My favourite Bollywood actor is Farhan Akhtar. I admire him because of his physical fitness and for his roles in athletic movies like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

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