Dhooman Singh Kirmach has been appointed president of the Haryana Arm Wrestling Association.
Priti Jhangiani and Praveen Dabas announce appointment; new state chief sets focus on grassroots talent, district units and youth participation
PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK YAMUNANAGAR
The People’s Arm Wrestling Association of India has appointed Dhooman Singh Kirmach as the president of the Haryana Arm Wrestling Association, with the aim of giving fresh momentum to the promotion of arm wrestling across the state. The appointment was announced by the association’s national president Priti Jhangiani and advisor Praveen Dabas.
Following his appointment, Dhooman Singh Kirmach said his primary objective would be to strengthen arm wrestling in Haryana and provide talented youngsters with opportunities to showcase their abilities at district, state, national and international levels. He said particular attention would be given to identifying promising players in rural areas and providing them with appropriate platforms to develop their sporting careers.
Kirmach said Haryana has already earned a strong reputation in the national sporting arena because of the achievements of its athletes across various disciplines. He said the state has enormous sporting potential among both urban and rural youth, and arm wrestling can emerge as an important competitive sport if young athletes receive proper guidance, training and opportunities.
He said the immediate focus would be on expanding the organisational network of the Haryana Arm Wrestling Association at the district level. According to him, stronger district-level units are essential for taking the sport to the grassroots and identifying talented players at an early stage.
Kirmach said arm wrestling should not remain confined to a few cities or established sporting centres. The sport needs to reach villages, towns and educational institutions so that youngsters from every part of Haryana can get an opportunity to participate. He said many talented young people in rural areas have the physical strength, determination and sporting ability required for competitive arm wrestling but often lack access to organised platforms.
The newly appointed state president said creating district-level units would help bridge this gap. Such units can provide a structured mechanism for conducting local competitions, identifying promising players and guiding them towards higher-level tournaments.
He said the association would work towards creating greater awareness about arm wrestling among young people and encouraging them to take up the sport in a disciplined manner. The objective would be to develop a broad base of players from which athletes capable of competing at national and international levels could emerge.
Kirmach also stressed the importance of using sports as a positive means of engaging young people. He said connecting youth with sports can help them develop discipline, confidence, determination and a healthy competitive spirit. He added that encouraging youngsters to participate in sports can also play an important role in keeping them away from harmful habits and substance abuse.
He said keeping young people away from drugs and involving them in constructive sporting activities would remain one of his priorities. According to him, young people need positive opportunities through which they can channel their energy and ambitions. Sports provide such an environment while also helping build physical fitness and mental resilience.
Kirmach appreciated the efforts being made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini towards encouraging sports and supporting athletes. He said the increasing emphasis on sports development has created opportunities for sporting organisations to work more effectively at the grassroots level.
He said the association would seek to take advantage of this favourable sporting environment to expand arm wrestling in Haryana. The focus would be on participation as well as performance, with the long-term objective of preparing athletes who can represent Haryana successfully at national and international competitions.
The newly appointed president said rural talent would receive special attention under his vision for the sport. He said geographical location should not determine whether a youngster gets an opportunity to pursue a sporting career. Talented players from villages should receive the same opportunity to compete, develop their skills and progress as players from urban areas.
He said the association would work towards creating a pathway for athletes that begins at the grassroots level and progresses through district and state competitions to national and international events. Regular competitions and exposure to strong opponents, he said, would be important in improving the confidence and performance of young athletes.
Kirmach said arm wrestling offers an opportunity for youngsters who are interested in strength-based sporting disciplines to develop their abilities through organised competition. He said the association would encourage more young people to participate and create awareness about the sporting opportunities available in the discipline.
He also emphasised that the development of the sport requires collective participation from athletes, coaches, sporting organisations, educational institutions and local communities. The association alone cannot expand the sport without the involvement of stakeholders at the grassroots level.
Kirmach said efforts would therefore be made to encourage local sporting bodies and district units to become more active. The aim would be to create a competitive sporting environment where young players can regularly test and improve their abilities.
He said the association’s long-term vision was to see Haryana produce arm wrestlers capable of earning recognition at national and international competitions. For this, players would need consistent training, proper guidance, competitive exposure and encouragement from their families and communities.
The state president also said sports can contribute significantly to the overall development of young people. Participation in competitive sports teaches discipline, patience, preparation, perseverance and the ability to deal with both success and setbacks. These qualities can help youngsters in their education, careers and personal lives as well.
He reiterated that promoting arm wrestling would be accompanied by a broader message of fitness and positive youth engagement. He said youngsters should be encouraged to make sports an integral part of their lives and use their energy in constructive activities.
Kirmach said his appointment carried an important responsibility and he would work towards strengthening the sport across Haryana with the support of the association and its members. He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts at the district and grassroots levels would help discover new talent and give promising athletes the opportunity to progress.
He said the target would be to establish arm wrestling as a stronger sporting discipline in Haryana and create opportunities for young players irrespective of whether they come from rural or urban backgrounds.
With the appointment of Dhooman Singh Kirmach as president, the Haryana Arm Wrestling Association is expected to focus on expanding its district-level presence, increasing youth participation and identifying talent from villages and smaller towns. The broader objective, as outlined by Kirmach, is to create a structured sporting pathway through which Haryana’s emerging arm wrestlers can progress from local competitions to national and international platforms.
Kirmach said he would work with the association to ensure that talented youngsters receive encouragement and opportunities to develop their potential. He reiterated that promoting sports, building a culture of fitness and keeping youth away from drugs would remain central to his approach.
