Indian Police Woman Wins 2 Gold Medals In World Arm Wrestling Competition

Mini Raju led the Indian team at the World Arm Wrestling Competition, held at Turkey from 14-23 October, where India won 13 medals.

When assistant sub inspector Mini Raju won a district-level arm wrestling competition conducted by the Kerala Police Association in 2018, she had no idea that four years later she would become Indian pride by winning a dual gold at the World Arm Wrestling Competition held notably in Turkey.

She also served as the captain of the 43-member Indian team that competed in the international athletic event and brought home 13 medals, including three gold, five silver, and five bronze, according to Raju. This was a first for the nation at the competition.

Arm wrestlers from Kerala took home eight of the 13 medals, she continued. India used to participate in the competition every year with a contingent of 40–45 athletes and would typically return with one–two medals. 

India earned this many medals for the first time ever. She was the first to win two gold medals for her nation at the competition, also after 1979.

Before stepping into the world of arm wrestling, Raju competed at the state level in the 100 and 200 meter heats as well as the long jump competitions, where he took first place. 

She continued to compete in athletic competitions when she worked for the police department in 2001, according to Raju. 

Her athletic career, however, was cut short by an accident in 2008 that injured a ligament in her leg.

When she visited the Kozhikode district unit of the Kerala Police Association in 2018 to watch an arm wrestling competition, she made the decision to take part, and “perhaps because of my history in sports, I had the strength required to win there.”

Four years after beginning the sport, she led the Indian team at the World Arm Wrestling Competition, which took place in Turkey from October 14 to 23 and saw the nation win 13 medals.