LOCAL ARM WRESTLER HEADED TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Justin Major, a 21-year-old from Casselman who works in Hammond, is heading to Turkey in October for the World Armwrestling Championship.
Major qualified for the World Championships after he won second and third places at the Canadian National Armwrestling Championships, that were held in Laval, Québec, from June 29 to July 1st. He won second place for the right arm and third place for the left arm in the 110 kg weight class. To qualify for the World Championships, arm wrestlers must participate in their province’s provincial competition and make it to Nationals to compete for a World Championship slot.
“This just really worked out since it was in Laval and it was really close,” said Major. “Next year, if the Nationals, which can be anywhere in the country, are really far, I won’t be able to go and then won’t be able to go to the Worlds’.”
Major started arm wrestling about four years ago, when he was 17 years old, and has been training twice a week since. In his first year in the sport, he participated in two competitions but then spent some time focusing on his training. In the last year and a half or so, however, he has been participating in any possible competition.
“Back in the 1970s and 1980s, arm wrestling was a big thing. My dad and a lot of my uncles were in it too,” added Major. “So it has always been in the family and I got into it from them.”
As the World Championships approach, the biggest competition Major will have participated in, he is training seriously at least twice a week with his team. He leaves for the World Armwrestling Championship in Turkey on October 12, and will be returning Oct. 21. He is participating in four different categories of competitions, depending on weight and age.
“I’ve actually got good chances of winning over there for my age group,” said Major.