Punjab Newsline,Sports:
High-voltage final at Noida Indoor Stadium decided in the last women’s bout
Haryana Thunders clinched the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 title after defeating Delhi Dangal Warriors 5–4 in a nail-biting final held on Sunday night at the Noida Indoor Stadium in Uttar Pradesh. The packed arena witnessed one of the most thrilling finals in league history, with the championship decided in the very last bout of the night.
After eight bouts, the scoreline was locked at 4–4, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. In the decisive 62 kg women’s bout, Paris Olympic silver medallist Iryna Koliadenko rose to the occasion and delivered a commanding performance under pressure. She secured a 16–0 victory by technical superiority, sealing the title for Haryana Thunders and sparking celebrations in the Haryana camp.
The final began with Delhi’s unbeaten Turan Bayramov asserting dominance in the 74 kg men’s bout, winning 8–1 to give Delhi an early lead. Haryana responded swiftly in the 76 kg women’s category, where Under-20 world champion Kajal Dhochik defeated European champion Anastasia Alpeyeva 3–1 to level the score.
In the 65 kg men’s bout, Delhi captain Sujit Kalkal produced a strong finish to overcome World Championship silver medallist Tumur Ochir Tulga 8–6, pushing Delhi ahead once again. Haryana struck back through multiple-time world champion Yui Susaki, who beat Sarika by technical superiority in the 53 kg women’s bout to make it 2–2.
Delhi regained the lead in the 86 kg men’s category as Asian Championship bronze medallist Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar defeated Ashirov Ashraf 11–0. However, Haryana’s Akshay Dhere restored parity by winning the 57 kg men’s bout via technical superiority.
In the 125 kg heavyweight bout, Delhi’s Ronak overpowered Anirudh Gulia 12–2 to take a 4–3 lead. Haryana refused to give in, as Neha Sangwan pinned Anjali in the 57 kg women’s bout to bring the score to 4–4.
With the championship on the line, Iryna Koliadenko delivered a flawless performance in the final bout to secure the PWL 2026 crown for Haryana Thunders. The champions received the trophy along with a prize money of ₹1.5 crore, while runners-up Delhi Dangal Warriors earned ₹75 lakh. Turan Bayramov was named Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performance throughout the season.