Pro Wrestling League 2026: Harshita Mor helps Maharashtra Kesari claim hard-fought win over UP Dominators
Maharashtra Kesari clinched a dramatic 5–4 victory over UP Dominators in Match 9 of the Pro Wrestling League 2026 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.
Harshita Mor produced a stunning fall in the women’s 76kg category, helping Maharashtra secure the win and move to second place on the points table with four points and 14 bout wins. UP Dominators, despite the narrow defeat, remains on top of the standings with four points and a superior tally of 20 bout wins. Harshita was named Player-of-the-Match, while UP Dominators Tapsya Gahlawat earned the Fighter-of-the-Match award.
UP Dominators made a strong start to the tie in the 86kg men’s bout, where Mykhailov Vasyl asserted early control against Amit. After conceding an initial push-out, Vasyl responded with a series of takedowns and turn-and-exposure sequences in the opening period, and maintained his grip in the second period to close out a comfortable 15–3 victory.
The lead was doubled in the 57kg women’s contest as Tapsya Gahlawat staged a comeback against Manisha Bhanvala. Turning the bout on its head during the Power Minute with a decisive takedown-and-turn sequence, Gahlawat edged a high-scoring encounter 12–9.
Maharashtra Kesari responded through captain Robert Baran in the heavyweight category. Baran imposed himself with timely takedowns and a decisive exposure in the closing phase to defeat Jaspooran Singh 10–2, bringing his side back into the contest. Momentum continued to build for Maharashtra in the 74kg men’s bout, where Yash wrestled with patience and control, capitalising on push-outs and activity points before finishing strongly with a late takedown to secure a 5–2 win and level the tie.
The host moved ahead for the first time in the 65kg men’s contest. Tevanyan Vazgen edged a closely contested battle against Vishal Kaliraman, striking first with a clean takedown, responding to Raman’s second-period surge, and sealing the tie with a decisive late takedown to register a narrow 4–3 victory.
Maharashtra extended its advantage in a high-intensity 57kg men’s contest, where Atish Thodkar outlasted Rahul Deswal 15–13. With both wrestlers exchanging scores relentlessly, Thodkar’s superior control in the middle phases and crucial exposure points proved decisive in a thrilling finish.
UP Dominators kept itself alive in the tie through Nisha Dahiya in the 62kg women’s category. Dahiya delivered a composed and tactical performance, opening with a sharp takedown and shutting down Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova’s offense to seal an 8–1 win and cut the deficit to a single bout.
The turning point of the match arrived in the 76kg women’s contest. Trailing on points, Harshita showed remarkable composure and awareness to capitalise on a late opening from Ojo Damola Hannah. Despite Ojo building a lead through multiple exposures, Harshita launched a decisive attack in the closing phase, securing a dramatic fall to swing the match firmly in Maharashtra Kesari’s favour and seal the team’s victory.
The final bout saw UP Dominators claim a consolation win in the 53kg women’s category, as Antim Panghal defeated Paris Olympic medallist Guzman Lopez Yusneylis 5–0 on points. However, the result came too late to alter the outcome, with Maharashtra Kesari closing the tie 5–4.
Thursday is a rest day for PWL 2026. Action will resume on Friday, when Haryana Thunders takes on Maharashtra Kesari at the Noida Indoor Stadium.
Published on Jan 21, 2026