India’s premier Arm Wrestling tournament, Pro Panja League, marked a significant milestone as it hosted its first-ever international event, Pro Panja UAE Cup, at the vibrant city of Dubai on April 19th at the India Club.

The event saw some of India’s best ArmWrestlers take on major athletes from the UAE, Kuwait and Pakistan. The matches were sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and were technically overseen by the Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation.

Mr Omar Ali from the Ministry of Sports, Mr Faisal Alzabi, Head of Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation and Mr Bharat Chachare, CEO of India Club graced the event as chief guests. Also present were Actor and Co-Founder of the Pro Panja League, Mr. Parvinn Dabass and Bollywood star and President of the People’s ArmWrestling Federation India, Mrs. Preeti Jhangiani.

In the first match, Talal Ali of Bahrain enjoyed a dominant 3-0 win over Arjun Menon of India. Next, Prasad Kanhangad of UAE beat compatriot Ramboo 3-0. India’s Umesh Kattuparambil and Asker Ali defeated Ameer Alturkumani of Kuwait and Ali Sehi of the UAE 3-0, respectively.

Lastly, in the highly anticipated clash between India’s Mazahir Saidu and Umer Awan of Pakistan, the former prevailed 3-0. After the crucial win, an elated Mazahir said, “It was an amazing experience competing in Pro Panja League’s inaugural International event. This was an important match for me because I was competing against a Pakistani ArmWrestler. India vs Pakistan is the biggest rivalry in sports and getting a win for India was truly special.”

After winning his match against Arjun Menon, Bahraini ArmWrestler Talal Ali called out Asker Ali for a match. Talal is the current Bahrain National Champion, three-time Arab Champion and the GCC Champion. Asker Ali accepted his challenge after winning his match.

After the successful event, Parvinn Dabass stated, “Couldn’t be happier with the welcome Pro Panja League has received here in Dubai. Seeing Indian ArmWrestlers compete with international stars was truly a special moment for me and I would like to thank India Club for being such a grand host and the Pro Panja UAE Cup is going to become a regular fixture on the International ArmWrestling Calendar based in the UAE.”

Preeti Jhanghiani spoke on similar lines and said, “ This event is a testament to the sport’s growing popularity and we can’t wait to bring more such international events on an even larger scale to the fans. The energy in Dubai was electric and such a reception motivates us to grow the sport even more and dream bigger.”

Get ready to lace up! Registration is officially open for the 25th edition of the Dubai Marathon, set to take place on February 1, 2026. Marking a major milestone, the iconic race is celebrating its silver jubilee with special events, elite competition, and a global gathering of runners.

As the Middle East’s oldest international road race, the Dubai Marathon has become a standout on the world running calendar, drawing elite athletes and amateurs from more than 140 countries. Held with the continued backing of the Dubai Sports Council, the race is known for its flat, fast course, perfect for personal bests and record-breaking performances.

The Dubai Marathon made history as the first race in the region to earn World Athletics’ Gold Label status, and it’s no stranger to big moments. Legendary long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie famously recorded the second-fastest marathon time ever during his debut in Dubai back in 2008 — a performance that helped cement the race’s global reputation.

In addition to the full 42.195 km marathon, the 2026 event will also include a 10 km road race and a 4 km fun run, making it accessible for runners of all ages and fitness levels.

The Dubai Sports Council emphasised the marathon’s importance to the city’s international sporting profile and its positive impact on tourism and hospitality. Now ranked among the top 10 marathons worldwide, the event continues to attract top-tier talent and thousands of passionate runners each year.

Whether you’re an elite athlete chasing a podium finish or a casual runner looking to be part of something special, the 2026 Dubai Marathon promises to be a race to remember.

For more info and to register, visit dubaimarathon.org.

Pro Panja League, India’s premier professional Arm Wrestling tournament, is set to mark a significant moment in the league’s journey, making its international debut on April 19th at the India Club, who are also the venue partner for the tournament in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The ‘Pro Panja UAE Cup’ is the first-ever occasion when the league is organizing an international event. The event will bring together some of India’s best arm wrestlers alongside the best arm wrestlers from around the world.

The event is sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and will technically be overlooked by the Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation. Actor and Co-Founder of the Pro Panja League, Mr. Parvinn Dabass and Bollywood Star and President of the People’s ArmWrestling Federation India , Mrs. Preeti Jhangiani will be making a special appearance at the event, alongside Mr. Raz Khan, who is the representative for Pro Panja League in the UAE.

A total of five matches will be played at the event, with the huge India-Pakistan headline clash being between India’s Mazahir Saidu (110 kg), who is India’s Number 1 and also the captain of Kochi KD’s in the Pro Panja League, and Pakistan’s Omer Jamshaid (105 kg).

In the 90 kg category, Arjun Menon from India will take on Talal Ali from Bahrain, while another Indian, Umesh Kattuparambil (80 kg) will compete against Ameer Alturkumani (85 kg) from UAE. In the other three matches at the landmark event, Prasad Kanhangad (75 kg) of India will be pitted against UAE’s Rambo (80 kg), while India’s Asker Ali (85 kg) will fight it out against Ali (90 kg).

Speaking about the international debut, Parvinn Dabass, Co-founder of Pro Panja League, said, “The Pro Panja UAE Cup is a natural progression in our vision to make arm wrestling a mainstream, globally recognized sport. The UAE has emerged as a hub for combat sports and we are thrilled to bring the energy and excitement of Pro Panja to such an enthusiastic audience and I thank our UAE partners especially India Club and Mr Faisal Alzaabi for their support .”

Sharing her enthusiasm for the same, Bollywood Star, Preeti Jhanghiani added, “Having seen the Pro Panja League up close, I have to say it’s a superb mix of sports and entertainment and Bollywood masala, everyone who watches falls in love with Pro Panja and now I’m honoured to be meeting my UAE fans through this platform .”