Muscles bulging and veins popping, two Chinese arm wrestlers lock eyes and then their hands, until the referee shouts “Go.”
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 groups in more than 100 Chinese cities, Shanghai Arm Wrestling founder Ye Ming said.
More than 100 competitors took part in the Seventh 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.
Photo: AFP
“Arm wrestling is a way to shake hands and communicate face-to-face,” said Ye, a top-ranked left-hander.
While China lags behind the US, Japan and Europe, it is the fastest-growing nation 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.
While he enjoyed arm wrestling as a child, he only came to the sport as an adult after falling critically ill.
Eight years ago he developed viral encephalitis and slipped into a coma for two days, with doctors saying it was unlikely he would survive.
He made a remarkable recovery, and while he was not able to take on the exertion of more intensive sports, he found that arm wrestling provided a full-body workout that he could manage.
With proper technique and mental strength “a skinny guy can defeat a muscular guy,” Ye said.
“At first, people are attracted by the grueling 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 said.
Since its founding in 2012, Shanghai Arm Wrestling has grown from four members to more than 500, ranging in age from 17 to 63, 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.
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, an elementary school English-language 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.
“We’re trying to change the public’s impression of arm wrestling,” he said. “It’s a legitimate sport, not just for entertainment.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two