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Delhi Dangal Warriors wrestler Anjali said the team was determined to reach the finals and was confident of victory against Maharashtra Kesari, after the team won their semi-final clash on Saturday to set up the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 final against Haryana Thunders.
Speaking to ANI, Anjali said Delhi Dangal Warriors were focused on making it to the finals and remained confident against Maharashtra, having beaten them before. She added that she believed winning the opening bout would set the tone for the team's overall victory. "Our team had already made up its mind to reach the finals. Earlier as well, we had defeated Maharashtra by 6-3, and we defeated them again today. I had faith that if I won the first bout, my team would win," Anjali said. Warriors' wrestler Sujeet expressed happiness over the team's victory and qualification for the finals, saying they made a strong comeback after earlier losses to UP and Haryana and are confident of performing well in the final. "I feel very happy that our team has won and reached the finals. Initially, we were on the backfoot because we had lost our matches against UP and Haryana. Now we have made a comeback, and we will perform well in the finals," Sujeet told ANI. Coming to the semi-final, Delhi Dangal Warriors booked their place in the PWL final after edging past Maharashtra Kesari with 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 that kept Delhi alive at a crucial stage, while Manisha Bhanwala earned Fighter of the Match honours for her dominant display that anchored Maharashtra's charge in the same weight category for women, as per a PWL press release. Delhi struck first in the 62kg women's contest through Anjali, 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, Anjali secured a convincing 12-4 win to hand Delhi the early lead. Maharashtra responded immediately in emphatic fashion as Manisha Bhanwala 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. Momentum swung Maharashtra's way in the heavyweight clash, where captain Robert Baran continued his unbeaten run. After conceding an early activity point, Baran took complete control in the second period, unleashing takedowns and exposures, especially during the Power Minute, to defeat Ronak 11-1 and put Maharashtra ahead. The advantage grew in the 53kg women's contest as Nishu Bhanwala edged a dramatic contest against Saarika. A strong first period gave Nishu a cushion, and despite Saarika's spirited comeback in the second, Maharashtra secured a narrow 7-6 win to move 3-1 ahead. Facing pressure of loss, Delhi found a lifeline through Shubham Kaushik in the 57kg men's category. 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 Delhi in contention. The tie was levelled in the 76 kg women's bout as European champion Anastasiya Alpyeeva showcased her experience against Harshita Mor. After conceding early points, Alpyeeva regrouped with sharp takedowns and push-outs, maintaining control in the second period to close out a 7-5 win and bring the semi-final to 3-3. Delhi then surged ahead for the first time since the opening contest as Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar edged Amit 11-9 in a fiercely contested 86 kg encounter, making the decisive difference with back-to-back takedowns in the Power Minute. The defining moment came in the 74 kg 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 Delhi 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 Delhi Dangal Warriors closed the semi-final 5-4. (ANI)
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