Yanking hard for recognition
Chinese arm wrestling league hopes to see sport go far
SHANGHAI: Muscles bulging and veins popping, two Chinese arm wrestlers lock eyes and then their hands, until the referee shouts “Go!”
Already considered a serious sport in many parts of the world, arm wrestling has generally been viewed in China as a testosterone showdown between inebriated bar patrons.
But it is gaining an arm hold with fan associations in more than 100 Chinese cities, said Ye Ming, founder of Shanghai Arm Wrestling.
More than 100 competitors took part in the recent 7th Shanghai Arm Wrestling Open, which calls itself the first in China carried out under the auspices of the Professional Armwrestling League’s international ranking system.
“Arm wrestling is a way to shake hands and communicate face-toface,” said Ye, a top-ranked lefthander.
And while China lags the US, Japan and Europe, it is the fastestgrowing country in terms of participation, he said.
The bespectacled 37-year-old is an unlikely champion.
By day Ye works at a Shanghai library restoring ancient books, meticulously piecing together crumbling centuries-old manuscripts.
With proper technique and mental strength, “a skinny guy can defeat a muscular guy”, said Ye.
“At first, people are attracted by the gruelling and eye-catching moments. Those get them in the door, but once they look deeper, it is the intricacy of the sport and the inclusiveness of the community that keep them there,” he explained.
Since its founding in 2012, Shanghai Arm Wrestling has grown from four members to more than 500, ranging in age from 17 to 63 and including four women.
Members gather weekly to work on their technique, using specially designed tables with elbow pads and a metal bar fixed to each side for competitors to grip with their free hand.
Li Rongyi’s right leg was partially disabled by childhood polio, ruling him out of many sports – but not arm wrestling.
“I can wrestle as long as I have hands. I feel equal to others” said Li, a primary school English teacher who has wrestled competitively for seven years.
Li has also been an international referee since last year and like many aficionados, hopes to see the sport added to the Paralympics.
He said: “We’re trying to change the public’s impression of arm wrestling. It’s a legitimate sport, not just for entertainment.”