Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1526074
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 30 AUGUST 2024 PEOPLE BY ANTHONY REED MARSALFORN, Gozo, hosted an exhilarating arm wrestling event last Sunday, marking a sig- nificant milestone in the revival of the sport within the Maltese islands. This competition, which fea- tured participants across vari- ous weight categories, is part of a growing movement to rejuve- nate arm wrestling in Gozo and Malta. A Brief History of Arm Wrestling Arm wrestling is a sport with ancient roots, dating back to the early civilizations. Evidence sug- gests that forms of arm wrestling were practised in ancient Egypt, with depictions of the sport found on tomb walls dating back over 3,000 years. The modern version of the sport began to take shape in the United States in the 20th centu- ry, popularised by competitions in local bars and eventually for- malised with rules and struc- tured tournaments. The first organised arm wres- tling championship, the World Wristwrestling Championship, took place in 1962 in Petaluma, California, and it helped to es- tablish the sport internationally. Today, arm wrestling enjoys a global following, with dedicated athletes competing in national and international events. Reviving the Sport in Gozo The arm wrestling scene in Malta and Gozo dates back to the 1990s, though the sport ex- perienced a decline after the local association ceased organ- ising events. David Apap, a na- tive of Gozo, took the initiative to breathe new life into the sport 12 years ago by organising com- petitions and promoting them via social media. His efforts have borne fruit, with the sport now gaining traction, particularly in gyms such as Challenger in Qormi Malta and Kinetic on Gozo. Apap reminisced about his early interest in arm wrestling, recalling "fond memories" of engaging in the sport at school with friends. His passion was further ignited after witnessing a tug-of-war event in Għarb, which led him to believe that arm wrestling could also attract a strong following in Malta. In- spired by this thought, he found- ed Arm Wrestling Malta after the National Arm Wrestling Association ceased organising competitions. "I've always been passionate about sports and wanted to introduce something new to Malta," Apap shared. "Our first competition was a hit, and people have been asking for more ever since." The Competition The Marsalforn event featured three primary categories based on weight: under 75 kilos, un- der 90 kilos, and over 90 kilos. Additionally, there were spe- cific categories for women and left-handed participants, ensur- ing inclusivity and wider partic- ipation. An open category was also available, which was not based on gender or weight class but rather on the participants' dom- inant hand, providing a unique challenge for all competitors. Competitors battled it out in right-arm matches, which are traditionally more popular than left-arm contests. The winners of each category advanced to an overall competition, where they competed for a grand prize of €200, with individual category winners receiving €100. In addition to the cash prizes, winners in each category were also awarded trophies, making the competition not only a test of strength but also an opportu- nity for recognition within the arm wrestling community. Event Highlights In the under 75 kilos category, Pochaev Firuz emerged as the champion. Despite weighing only 73 kilos, Firuz has prov- en himself to be a formidable competitor. Firuz initially made his mark in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a full-contact com- bat sport that allows for a wide variety of fighting techniques, Arm wrestling championship in marsalforn, Pochaev Firuz emerged as the champion in the under 75 kilos category