Armenian war veteran Sargis Stepanyan claimed his fifth world para-armwrestling title on November 1, 2026, at the World Para-Armwrestling Championships in New Delhi, India, adding another major achievement to his international sporting career.
The championship is part of the 47th World Armwrestling and 28th World Para-Armwrestling Championships, bringing together competitors from around the world.
Stepanyan previously secured his fourth world title in September 2025, competing in the 80 kg category at the World Para-Armwrestling Championships in Albena, Bulgaria, which featured athletes from 58 countries.
He is also a six-time European para-armwrestling champion and a two-time World Cup winner. His most recent European title came in May 2026 in Budapest, Hungary, where he won gold in the seated 80 kg and above category.
A reserve lieutenant colonel in the Armenian Armed Forces, Stepanyan lost both legs and his right arm in 2014 while attempting to rescue a wounded fellow serviceman from a mined area during an Azerbaijani attack in Artsakh.
Following his injuries, Stepanyan pursued competitive para-armwrestling, establishing himself among Armenia’s most decorated athletes in the discipline.
He is also the founder and president of Armenia’s Federation of Sports for People with Disabilities, working to promote opportunities for athletes with disabilities.
