CNN
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Ironically, it’s hard to grasp the origins of arm wrestling in a case of instantly recognizable contests that resolve immeasurable scores.
As hosting the first world championships of the World Arm Climbing Federation (WAF) in 1979, Canada’s Wetaskiwin city could be argued as the birthplace of formal and global sports, but the accounts of rivals trapped in the bicep battle have grown even further.
According to anthropologists, the arm wrestling version was already rooted in Japan, Spain and Cuba before the turn of the century. These claims are contested, but some have argued that they are depicted in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Whatever its place in the story of the origins of arm wrestling, Africa has not looked back.
Last March, the sport first appeared at the 13th African Games held in Accra, Ghana.
This was the latest step for Asiabey to provide the promise of the 2022 election manifesto. This is wrapping “home” sports in your arms on the continent.
“We were in Africa before, but it’s just a way to determine what’s strongest in our community and schools.,’ Asianbey told CNN. “So people didn’t even think of arm wrestling as a sport. It was just a normal game… we turned it into a sport.”
The technical term for arm wrestlers is “puller,” a technique rather than raw power that makes a champion, highlighting Asiabey in a training program focused on developing all aspects of the body.
“Being smart, speedy, lightweight and capable of swinging very well will beat heavier weight,” explained Asibey, who competed until last year.
Such matchups do not occur at competitive levels. It falls into sex and weight categories similar to boxing and mixed martial arts. And just as boxing has a variety of orthodox and southpaw stances, arm wrestling has its own fighting style that plays to the personal strengths of the puller.
For example, in top roll styles, the puller rotates the wrist inward (pronation), often tilting to increase leverage, but the hook technique involves outward rotation (suspension) of the wrist, creating a hook shape with the arm and pulling the Opponer.
Tall pulls with long arm spans create a natural top roller, while hook styles are very effective for people with backgrounds in similar fields that prioritize powerlifting, bench pressing, or triceps strength.
During the contest, Puller’s face is a picture of steel concentration, autos training efforts, fierce competition in viscerals, but it is mutual respect that defines Asiabey’s sport.
“Even if we’re defeated, we’ll congratulate you,” he said. “You arrive at the table and shake hands… you leave the table and shake hands and hold each other.”
His arm wrestling debut at African Games last year was homecoming in every sense of the words of Asiabey. The former Accra-born broadcast journalist founded the Ghanaian Arms Bookmaking Federation in 2016.
The hosts accumulated 41 of a total of 84 arm wrestling medals. It comfortably exempt them from carrying Egyptian 19 medals, but the North African nation has collected six arm wrestling gold than Ghana to finish the top of the medal table.
The two pullers in particular embody the team’s “golden arm” moniker, accounting for half of Ghana’s eight gold medals.
Male Captain Edward Asamore won in the weight class of 90kg on both his left and right arms. Members of Asamore, Ghana Immigration Services in 2017 I decided to test his luck at the national tournament and drive a roller coaster adventure..
“The journey wasn’t that smooth due to injuries and fundraising, but it was worth it,” he told CNN. “Resolution and hard work have given me those medals.”
It was a similarly fierce rise for Grace Minta, the police officer who became the first Ghanaian to win the World Herd Championship Gold in Moldova five months later and tracked two golds in Accra.
Dominating continental events and becoming a world champion recorded the new highest of the three-time gold medalist Minta of the Africa Championship.
“I’m very proud to be a Ghanaian wrestler,” Minta told CNN. “I want to train young people coming and organize them to become someone in the future.”
The challenge for Africa today is to replicate Minta’s success more regularly. It’s not an easy feat given the well-established giants of the sport.
Kazakhstan dominated last year’s World Championships and scooped 52 gold as part of a surge in 159 medals. Türkiye and Georgia finished second and third on the medal leaderboard.
Egypt leads Africa’s terms at 36th place, two locations in Ghana, and according to Ashibey, it fairly reflects its position as a “first-class” arm wrestling outfit on the continent.
He says Africa is currently on track with nine countries signed up as members of the WAF, but says securing more funding will help close the gap. The popularity of sports in schools has led to countries like Kazakstan sending more than 100 competitors to world championship events.
“That’s why they’re always dominated because in those countries they take sports very seriously,” Asiby said.
“The African game has brought a lot of good stuff. The government and institutions recognize us… (but) we don’t have sponsors yet. We’re struggling to raise funds.”
“We are confident that where we are heading, we will soon be able to invest in our sport,” he added.
Such support will help Asiabey ensure that the African Game of Arm Wrestling returns in Cairo in 2027. But that’s his short-term focus, but he has even greater aspirations.
WAF has failed to bid to watch para-arm wrestling included in the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles, but Asiabey, who doubles as one of the five WAF vice presidents, believes it was time before it cuts.
It will bring him a step closer to his ultimate goal of watching Puller fight it on the Olympic stage. By confirming that Arm Wrestling is a regular fixture for his own Continental game, he believes he is doing his part to make that dream a reality in the near future.
“We’re working hard to get involved in the Olympics,” Asiby said. “We’ll get there soon… (so) I’ll get a good night’s sleep.”