Rearing to go: The armwrestling team poses for a photograph with the officials in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Aug. 20: Assam will be represented by a 46-member squad in the three-day 32nd National Armwrestling Championship to be held at Bhilai in Chattisgarh from August 24.

The Assam squad, comprising 29 male and 15 female armwrestlers, will leave here tomorrow. Two team managers will also accompany them. Dhrubajyotiu Borah will lead the men as captain while the women will be led by Debalakhmi Pandit.

Four referees — Ramen Dutta, Jiban Phukan, Ujjal Borah and Kushal Tai — and two spare referees — Jayanta Medhi and Rabi Dey — will also accompany the squad. Besides, four officials of the Armwrestling Association of Assam will accompany the squad.

Assam Armwrestling Association (AAA) general secretary Pran Pratim Chaliha, who announced the state squad today, said Assam armwrestlers will participate in all junior, senior and masters’ events except in the physically challenged category.

The squad was selected from the state level championship held at Badarpur from June 15 to 17.

The AAA also distributed tracksuits and T-shirts among the participants on the eve of their departure. Assam Olympic Association (AOA) assistant secretary Bishnu Ram Nunisa distributed the gear.

AAA president Kailash Sarma appealed to the AOA to endorse the bid for inclusion of the power sport in the Olympic charter of disciplines through the Indian Olympic Association.

The squad:

Men: Dhrubajyoti Borah (capt), Diganta Goswami, Arup Rajkonwar, Raju H. Borah, Manoj Ghosh, Bidyut Buragohain; Rakesh Borah, Bhrigu Saikia, Nipon Deka, Madhurjya Deka, Nilim Akash Medhi, Syed Akhtar, Jahan Uddin, Nazir Uddin, Ashique Amin, Debajit Sarma, Rajib Lochan Gogoi, Ikhayaku Choudhury, Deba Prashad Gogoi, A. Sarma, Akram Khan, Dipak Borah, Akash Pradhan, Rikumoni Borah, Pankaj Chaudhury, Mainuddin Ahmed, Sunit Bijay Kashyap and Ramij Uddin

Women: Debalakhmi Pandit (capt), Purnima Bora, Jonali Saikia, Ranjana Saikia, Champa Bora, Nilima Bora, Mrinalini Bora, Dipali Sen, Barnali Dey, Rakhi Das, Lipika Das, Amiya Buragohain, Devi Rani Dutta, Sibani Acharjee, Pradipta Dutta and Mousumi De.

Managers: Azizur Rahman and Chandan Sen C.