PWL-2: Punjab rule over Delhi Sultans

Punjab Royals took a share of the top spot with a 5-2 victory over Delhi Sultans in a Pro Wrestling League contest in the capital on Sunday.

Punjab are now on four points from three outings, the same as fellow toppers Jaipur Ninjas and Haryana Hammers who have played one match less.

Delhi, on the other hand, are yet to open their account. They have lost both ties so far and languish at the bottom of the table along with UP Dangal.

Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik (women’s 58 kg) and her fiance Satyavart Kadian (men’s 97kg) were the only Delhi wrestlers who managed to win their bouts on Sunday.

Punjab’s Jitendra (men’s 74kg) was adjudged the player of the tie for his gritty comeback win over Delhi’s promising Parveen Rana.

Punjab captain Vladimir Khinchegashvili won the toss and decided to block the women’s 48kg category. Delhi skipper Sakshi, on the other hand, decided to block the men’s 70kg division.

Vladimir got proceedings off to a positive start for Punjab by outclassing Pankaj Kumar 8-1 in the men’s 57kg category.

National champion Jitendra extended the lead with an action packed 5-4 win over Delhi’s Pankaj Rana in the men’s 74kg division.

Nigeria’s Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye gave Punjab a formidable 3-0 lead by quashing Sangeeta Phogat of Delhi on technical superiority.

Odunayo used her technique and strength to earn points with impunity before the contest was stopped when she was ahead 15-0.

Satyavart Kadian reduced the gap for Delhi by overpowering Punjab’s Krishan Kumar 14-4 in the men’s 97kg division.

Satyavart opened up a 4-0 lead in the first round before Krishan earned a point.

The Delhi grappler totally dominated the second round to earn a well-deserved win.

Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi reduced the deficit further by defeating Manju Kumari of Punjab 10-0 in the women’s 58kg category.

Sakshi opened up a 4-0 lead in the first round and never looked back from there.

But any hopes of a Delhi comeback that the local crowd may have nurtured was nipped in the bud when Rio Olympics silver medallist Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan handed Punjab an insurmountable 4-2 lead.

The former European champion needed just 30 seconds to pin Delhi’s 2013 world championship bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and clinch the men’s 65kg contest. Former European champion Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus rounded off proceedings on a high note for Punjab with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Delhi’s Alina Makhynia.