"FIRST HAND" CREATES CHAMPIONS!

In Banja Luka, a new generation of arm wrestling champions is emerging. Enthusiasts of this fast-growing sport can hone their skills at "First hand," a club officially founded at the end of May this year and which formally began operations on October 8th. The high interest in the sport is evident, with 15 men joining the club within just two months.

Training sessions are held twice a week at the Splinter Gym, located at 9 Cara Lazara Street. The club’s president proudly highlights the top-tier training conditions provided.

“We are the first Citizens' Association in the Republic of Srpska dedicated to promoting the sport of arm wrestling. Our goal is to launch and expand this sport from Banja Luka, the largest city in the Republic of Srpska, following the example of neighboring countries. This endeavor was realized with the support of the absolute champion and Serbia’s strongest arm, Ljubodrag Krstić from Bijeljina, who serves as our mentor and friend. Without him, this story would not make sense, as he shares our vision of making this sport popular in the Republic of Srpska,” said Damjan Milanović, president of the "Prva Ruka" club.

Milanović expressed great satisfaction with the progress made so far and emphasized that the club has set high goals for its future.

“With enthusiasm, hard work, and clear ideas, we are laying the foundation for the development of this sport. In March this year, we reached out to regional champion Ljubodrag Krstić and arranged a partnership. We subsequently registered our Association, completed equipment procurement in August, and secured a training space. The first training session was held in October, and we also hosted the first-ever arm wrestling seminar in the Republic of Srpska,” Milanović emphasized, noting that this seminar marked a historic milestone for the region.

The club’s plans extend beyond this. By the end of the year, a match is scheduled between Ljubo Krstić and Jean Pierre Suve, slated for November 30. Krstić will compete in the heavyweight division against the French opponent.

For the club's new members and beginners, amateur tournaments are set to begin in Serbia in March. For the champion, however, the club’s ambitions extend to national championships, followed by European and World Championships—both major challenges in terms of competition, funding, and logistics.

“Our competitive goals are clear. There is undeniable talent in the Republic of Srpska capable of representing us on the world stage. To make this a reality, our first task is to institutionalize the sport, secure funding, and invest in athlete development. Interestingly, the investment required for this sport is minimal compared to others, so we remain optimistic that our efforts will be recognized and that we will gain support for reaching our competitive goals,” concluded Milanović.