LEBANESE ARM WRESTLERS

ON A SEASIDE podium in Lebanon, Halim el-Achkar locks hands with an opponent, exerting pressure until he slams both contestants forearms down with a fearsome growl, to win the bout.

His rippling biceps etched with tattoos, the 25-year old is thrilled the country's century-old pastime of arm wrestling has been given a new lease of life. ''I always loved this game. For me, it's a symbol of strength and manliness,'' said Achkar, sporting a neatly trimmed black beard.

''This discipline must be taken up more, so we can shine abroad the same way we do in basketball,'' he added.

The tournament in in Jounieh, a Lebanese town just north of the capital Beirut. is the second annual  nationwide  contest organised by the country's  arm-wrestling federation.

Established last year, the body already boasts  750 members whom it trains to perform at international standards, founder  Karim el-Andary told AFP.

Grappling for Gold : ''The goal is to put Lebanon on the world map,'' he said.

It's a goal that looks achievable, since two federation members scored  gold medals at a competition in Italy last year. But Andary is driven by more than a quest for international recognition.

''Arm wrestling is rooted in Lebanese tradition. We inherited it from our grandparents. It's our duty to preserve it,'' he said.

As far back as the  19th century, men in the villages across the country would show off their strength, locking hands over a table   -or even just lifting rocks.

''This tradition has widespread across the country,'' said Maroun Khalil, who heads the Lebanese Federation of Heritage and Traditional Sports.

''It was both a playful pastime  and a way to resolve disputes in villages without resorting to bloodshed,'' he said.

The old sport has drawn in new fans in Lebanon. Dozens gathered in Jounieh to watch men and women grapple for gold. [Agencies]