A young girl from Waterloo, Ont. is muscling her way to the top of the arm wrestling world.
Despite only starting in the sport competitively around a year ago, Iti Manchanda, 14, has already been a finalist in several competitions and earned the title as Canada’s top-ranked arm wrestler in her class.
“My most recent, most big competition was the Asian International,” Manchanda told CTV News. “I won first place there in my age and weight category.”
The teen also competed at the 2024 Ontario Provincial Armwrestling Championships, the 2024 Canadian National Championships and the 2024 Michigan Arms State Armwrestling Championship.
Manchanda’s family said she’s always been interested in athletics.
“Since she’s born, she’s strong,” her father, Rahul, explained. “Back in India, I used to go to the gym and she used to come with me. I think she was 4-years-old,she used to hold five-pound dumbbells and she used to just copy what I’m doing.”
After her family moved to Canada, Manchanda expressed an interest in arm wrestling and would challenge her dad to a daily duel.
“My mom was like, ‘OK, since you love arm wrestling so much, why don’t we find you actual club you can train at and compete?’” the teen recalled.
Manchanda soon began training professionally at Table Monkeys in Toronto. With the help of her parents, she also converted her family’s dining room into an at-home gym.
“A lot of people think arm wrestling is all just physical, but it’s a lot about your mental game also,” she explained. “I’ve been with girls who are twice my age screaming on the table, banging the table, and that’s actually made me lose a couple of matches because I was distracted and I wasn’t focused. But now, I learned how to conquer that and I’m excited to face them next time.”
Manchanda also wrestles with trying to get more women and girls involved in the sport.
“Because there are not enough,” she said. “I go to a tournament and I’m only with two other girls, every single time.”
The lack of competition isn’t stopping Manchanda from shooting for the stars and the global stage.
Her dream is also within arm’s reach – the 14-year-old is set to represent Canada at an international competition in Bulgaria later this year.
“I’m really excited for that,” Manchanda said. “I just hope I keep getting better.”
