PWL Season 2: Punjab Royals edge out UP Dangal

NCR Punjab Royals ended UP Dangal’s campaign in the Pro Wrestling League Season 2 with an emphatic 5-2 win in the capital on Tuesday.

Punjab secured the advantage by winning the toss as they blocked the 58kg women’s category, ruling out UP’s star wrestler Geeta Phogat from the tie. UP chose to block the 97kg men’s category. The first bout saw UP’s Amit Kumar Dahiya and Punjab captain and 2016 Olympics gold medallist Vladimir Khincheg-ashvili face off in the 57kg men’s category. The Georgia grappler displayed exemplary defence in both rounds and took Amit by surprise in the first with a takedown.

Amit retaliated by attempting to push Khicnhegashvili out of the protected zone, but was out-muscled by the Punjab captain, who registered a 6-2 victory. UP came back in the next bout as an intense contest between their captain Elitsa Yankova and Punjab’s Nirmla Devi culminated in a 2-1 victory for the former.

Yankova overcame a tough challenge even as two points were lost by each player due to passivity. Nirmla used all her experience to score a vital point, attempting a pushout on Yankova. An unsuccessful protest from the Punjab camp resulted in a point being given to Yankova, resulting in UP’s victory in the 48 kg women’s category.

Punjab took control from the third bout onwards as Jitendra stunned UP Dangal’s overseas import Tariel Gaphrindashvili 6-1 in the 74kg men’s category. Punjab won the fourth bout as well, the energetic Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye overpowering UP’s Pinki in the 53kg women’s category 16-0 by virtue of technical superiority.

The Nigerian grappler who earned gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, delighted the spectators with her characteristic victory dance. PWL debutant Ilias Bekbulatov from Punjab clinched the tie for his team as he overwhelmed UP’s Andrey Kviatkovski 6-3 in the 65kg men’s category.

Amit Dhankar from the UP side salvaged some pride for his team, routing Pankaj Rana 13-5 in the 70 kg men’s category. Initially, both wrestlers look to go neck-and-neck, but it was Dhankar who wrestled control in the final moments of the bout, employing successful leg locks and tackles to emerge the winner.

The final bout saw Punjab’s Vasilisa Marzaliuk prevail 3-1 over UP’s Maria Mamashuk in the 75kg women’s category. With this loss, UP Dangal are out of contention for the semi-finals.