Noida, Feb 2 (NationPress) The Haryana Thunders emerged victorious in the Pro Wrestling League 2026, narrowly beating the Delhi Dangal Warriors with a score of 5–4 in an exhilarating final on Sunday. After this triumph, head coach Virender Dahiya credited the team's success to its long-term strategy and underscored the league's vital role for budding wrestlers.

Dahiya highlighted that the league offers invaluable learning opportunities from international competitors and expressed optimism that Indian wrestlers will continue to earn accolades for the nation on the global stage.

In a post-match interview, Dahiya disclosed that the management had placed absolute confidence in the coaching team from the outset.

“When the franchise approached us initially — myself and our assistant coach Prasad ji — they entrusted us with complete responsibility. They never insisted we had to make the team champions. Instead, the focus was on providing opportunities for both seasoned athletes and emerging talent. During the auction, we prioritized selecting high-caliber wrestlers and Indian competitors who would truly benefit from this platform,” he explained.

“We strategically chose wrestlers aged 18–19 to ensure a balanced team, which paved our way to the semi-finals, then the final, and ultimately to victory. This success stemmed from total teamwork,” Dahiya stated in an interview with IANS.

The Haryana Thunders coach, who has been integral to the Indian wrestling framework for four years and currently leads the women’s national team, emphasized the significant advancements made by young female wrestlers in the nation.

“Numerous girls aged 18 to 20 have already competed in our other teams. These athletes have triumphed over Olympic medallists, European champions, and World Championship medallists. Wrestlers like Kajal and Sarika have achieved this. The prospects for these girls are incredibly promising, which will greatly benefit India in the forthcoming Asian Games,” he remarked.

Dahiya further stressed the importance of the exposure gained from competing against elite international wrestlers, describing it as a substantial morale booster for Indian athletes.

“Competing alongside foreign wrestlers is tremendously beneficial. Several of our girls had only seen someone like Susaki on television. On the first day, some even cried upon witnessing such a prominent star train with them. She has been training with us for the last 20 days. The morale of all the girls has significantly improved, and they now aspire to emulate Susaki (Yui),” said Dahiya.

He also commended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for revitalizing the league after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and for establishing a stronger foundation for wrestlers. “This vision belongs to the Wrestling Federation of India. The league was halted due to COVID, but WFI made substantial efforts to restart it, creating a fresh platform for both male and female wrestlers.

“I've heard that in the near future, the number of teams will increase from six to twelve, and matches will be organized across various states. This will significantly impact our Olympic preparations,” he added.

The title victory of the Haryana Thunders not only concluded an exhilarating season but also highlighted the increasing depth, confidence, and global exposure of Indian wrestling, a promising indicator as the nation prepares for major international competitions.