Pulpally: Seven young women from Wayanad have earned a place in India’s national arm-wrestling team, marking a historic achievement for the district. After winning a haul of medals for Kerala at the National Arm Wrestling Championship, these athletes are now preparing to compete on the world stage.

The National Arm Wrestling Championship was held at the Rashtriya Raksha University in Gujarat from May 29 to June 2. While male athletes from Wayanad have regularly found a place in national teams in recent years, the selection of seven girls from the district to the national women’s squad has brought immense pride to the region.

The athletes are Ananya Bobby, Elaine Ann Naveen, R Rajeswari, Rithunanda Suresh, Shreya, VS Arya and Sudarshana Rajan.

• Ananya Bobby, who won a silver and a bronze medal in the Sub-Junior Girls 45 kg category, is the daughter of KS Sindhu from Mullankolly and a Class 10 student at St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Mullankolly.

• Elaine Ann Naveen, a native of Pulpally and a former Asian champion, secured double gold in the Sub-Junior Girls 55 kg category (left and right hand). She is a Class 10 student at St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Mullankolly, and daughter of teacher Naveen Paul and teacher Sheryl Thomas.

• R. Rajeswari, who won bronze in the Sub-Junior Girls 60 kg left-hand category, is daughter of S Raja and Murugeshwari from Vythiri.

• Rithunanda Suresh claimed double gold in the Junior Girls 45 kg category. She is daughter of CS Suresh and Mini from Amarakkuni, Pulpally.

• Shreya won double gold in the Junior Girls 60 kg category and is daughter of V Satheesh and S Vanitha from Chettappalam, Pulpally.

• VS Arya secured gold in the Youth Girls 65 kg left-hand category. A BCom student at NMSM Government College, Kalpetta, she is also a National University Games champion. She is daughter of K Sureshan and KB Chandrika from Vythiri.

• Sudarshana Rajan, who won bronze in the Youth Girls 70 kg left-hand category, is a degree student at St. Mary’s College, Sulthan Bathery, and a National University Games champion. She is daughter of Rajan and Pushpakumari from Mullankolly.

The athletes are now preparing for the World Arm Wrestling Championship, scheduled to be held in Delhi from October 26 to November 7. They train under national-level athlete Naveen Paul and coaches Gregory Vythiri and K.R. Ranjith at Fitwell Gymnasium, Pulpally, and Challenge Academy, Vythiri.