Noida, Jan 22 (NationPress) Harshita Mor showcased an unforgettable performance, propelling Maharashtra Kesari to a thrilling 5–4 victory over the UP Dominators in the ninth match of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 held at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.

Mor's remarkable fall in the women's 76kg category was pivotal, enabling Maharashtra to clinch the win and ascend to second place in the standings with four points and 14 bout victories. Despite the narrow loss, UP Dominators retained their lead in the table with four points and a commendable total of 20 bout wins. Harshita Mor earned the title of Player of the Match, while Tapsya Gahlawat from UP Dominators was honored with the Fighter of the Match award.

The UP Dominators initiated the tie strongly in the men's 86kg bout, where Mykhailov Vasyl established early dominance over Amit. After a brief push-out setback, Vasyl executed a series of takedowns and exposure moves during the first period, maintaining his advantage in the second period to secure a decisive 15–3 victory.

The lead was extended in the women's 57kg bout, where Tapsya Gahlawat mounted an impressive comeback against Manisha Bhanvala. By turning the match during the Power Minute with a critical takedown and turn, Gahlawat triumphed in a high-scoring contest with a score of 12–9.

Maharashtra Kesari responded through their captain, Robert Baran, in the heavyweight category. Baran took control with timely takedowns and a decisive exposure late in the match, defeating Jaspooran Singh 10–2 and revitalizing his team's chances. Momentum continued to build for Maharashtra in the men's 74kg bout, where Yash showcased patience and control, leveraging push-outs and activity points before finishing robustly with a late takedown for a 5–2 win, leveling the tie.

The hosts took the lead for the first time in the men's 65kg contest, where Tevanyan Vazgen narrowly triumphed over Vishal Kaliraman. He struck first with a clean takedown, countered Raman’s second-period resurgence, and sealed the win with a late takedown for a final score of 4–3.

Maharashtra increased their lead in a gripping men's 57kg contest, where Atish Thodkar outlasted Rahul Deswal in a back-and-forth battle, finishing 15–13. Thodkar's superior control and crucial exposure points during the middle phases proved decisive.

The UP Dominators fought back through Nisha Dahiya in the women's 62kg category. Dahiya executed a composed and tactical performance, starting with a sharp takedown and neutralizing Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova’s offense to secure an 8–1 victory, narrowing the gap to a single bout.

The turning point of the match emerged in the women's 76kg contest, where Harshita Mor, trailing on points, displayed exceptional composure and awareness to exploit a late opening from Ojo Damola Hannah. Despite Ojo's initial lead, Harshita launched a decisive attack in the final moments, achieving a dramatic fall that swung the match firmly in favor of Maharashtra Kesari and ensured their overall victory.

The concluding bout saw UP Dominators earn a consolation win in the women's 53kg category, with Antim Panghal defeating Olympic medallist Guzman Lopez Yusneylis 5–0 on points. Nevertheless, this result was too late to affect the overall outcome, with Maharashtra Kesari sealing the tie at 5–4.

Thursday marks a rest day for PWL 2026, with league action set to resume on Friday (January 23) as Haryana Thunders face off against Maharashtra Kesari at the Noida Indoor Stadium.