PWL 2026: Delhi Dangal Warriors to face Haryana Thunders in Pro Wrestling League final
Delhi Dangal Warriors booked its place in the final of Pro Wrestling League 2026 after edging past Maharashtra Kesari in a pulsating second semifinal at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Friday.
The Warriors showed composure under pressure to claim a 5–4 victory and set up a mouth-watering title clash against Haryana Thunders. Shubham Kaushik was named Player of the Match for his extraordinary comeback win in the 57kg men’s category bout against Atish Thodkar that kept the Warriors alive at a crucial stage while Manisha Bhanvala earned Fighter of the Match honours for her dominant display that anchored Kesari’s charge in the same weight category for women.
The Warriors struck first in the 62kg women’s contest through Anjli, who produced a composed and clinical performance against Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova. Mixing takedowns, push-outs, and a decisive four-point move in the Power Minute, Anjli secured a convincing 12–4 win to hand her side the early lead. Kesari responded immediately in emphatic fashion as Manisha dominated Karla Godinez Gonzalez in the 57kg women’s tie, overwhelming her opponent with relentless takedown–turn combinations to claim a 15–0 technical superiority victory and level the tie.
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Momentum swung Kesari’s way in the heavyweight clash where captain Robert Baran continued his unbeaten run. After conceding an early point, Baran took complete control in the second period and unleashed takedowns, especially during the Power Minute, to defeat Ronak 11–1 and put Kesari ahead. The advantage grew in the 53kg women’s contest as Nishu Bhanvala edged a dramatic contest against Saarika. A strong first period gave Nishu a cushion, and despite Saarika’s spirited comeback in the second, Kesari secured a narrow 7–6 win to help Kesari move 3–1 ahead.
The Warriors found a lifeline through Shubham. Carrying a sore knee, Kaushik produced one of the moments of the tournament, overturning a significant deficit in the Power Minute with a stunning four-point exposure followed by a four-point takedown to snatch an 11–10 victory and keep his side in contention.
The tie was levelled in the 76kg women’s bout as European champion Anastasiya Alpyeyeva showcased her experience against Harshita Mor. After conceding early points, Alpyeyeva regrouped with sharp takedowns and push-outs, maintaining control in the second period to close out a 7–5 win and level the semifinal at 3–3.
The Warrriors surged ahead for the first time since the opening contest as Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar edged Amit 11–9 in a fiercely contested 86kg encounter, making the decisive difference with back-to-back takedowns in the Power Minute.
The defining moment came in the 74kg men’s tie between Turan Bayramov and Yash. Bayramov dominated the opening period to race into a 5–0 lead, before Yash mounted a strong comeback in the second period to draw level at 5–5. With the bout tied, Bayramov was declared the winner on a higher technique criterion, giving the Warriors their fifth win and confirming their place in the final.
The final bout was decided by forfeit, with Tevanyan Vazgen awarded the win, but the outcome was already sealed as the Warriors closed the semifinal with a 5–4 win.
Published on Feb 01, 2026