Did Saarika Lead Delhi Dangal Warriors to a Dominant 6–3 Victory Over Maharashtra Kesari in PWL 2026?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Saarika shines with a 7-0 victory over a top competitor.
- Delhi Dangal Warriors show impressive teamwork and resilience.
- Match highlights include dramatic comebacks and technical excellence.
- The tournament runs from January 15 to February 1, showcasing emerging talent.
- Next matches promise more excitement with Delhi facing Haryana Thunders.
Noida, Jan 16 (NationPress) The 17-year-old Saarika delivered the most stunning performance of the day, achieving a remarkable 7-0 victory against Paris 2024 silver medalist Guzman Lopez Yusneylis. Thanks to her efforts, the Delhi Dangal Warriors secured a convincing 6–3 triumph over Maharashtra Kesari in their opening match on the second day of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 held on Friday.
In this match, Anastasiya Alpyeeva from Delhi was honored with the Player of the Match award, while Robert Baran from Maharashtra Kesari earned the Fighter of the Match accolade. The tournament is taking place at the Noida Indoor Stadium from January 15 to February 1.
The contest began with Maharashtra Kesari taking the lead when Manisha Bhanvala won the 57kg women’s bout decisively with a score of 6–0. However, Delhi quickly responded through Shubham Kaushik, who exhibited remarkable tenacity to overcome Atish Thodkar in the men’s 57kg category, clinching a narrow 12–10 victory following a significant four-point takedown in the Power Minute.
The tide turned in favor of Delhi during the 53kg women’s match, where Saarika stunned Guzman Lopez Yusneylis with a controlled 7–0 victory. Maharashtra leveled the score at 2–2 thanks to Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova, who dominated the second period to best Anjli 10–2.
The heavyweight 125kg bout was critical for Maharashtra, as former European champion Robert Baran triumphed over Ronak with a score of 5–0, restoring his team's lead. Nevertheless, Delhi showcased their depth and resilience, with Turan Bayramov defeating Yash 14–10 in a thrilling 74kg match, followed by Anastasiya Alpyeeva decisively swinging the match in Delhi's favor with a swift fall over Harshita Mor in the 76kg women’s bout.
Delhi capped off their victory in the 86kg men’s category, where Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar maintained composure to best Amit 5–3. Team captain Sujeet Kalkal sealed the evening's success for the Delhi Dangal Warriors with a composed 6–2 victory in the final bout, ensuring a comprehensive 6–3 team win.
Day three of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) will feature exciting back-to-back matches, starting with Tiigers of Mumbai facing the UP Dominators, followed by the Delhi Dangal Warriors taking on the Haryana Thunders.
Results:
Delhi Dangal Warriors vs Maharashtra Kesari
Bout 1 | 57kg (Women): Manisha Bhanvala (Maharashtra Kesari) def. Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Delhi Dangal Warriors) 6-0
Bout 2 | 57kg (Men): Shubham Kaushik (Delhi Dangal Warriors) def. Atish Thodkar (Maharashtra Kesari) 12-10
Bout 3 | 53kg (Women): Saarika (Delhi Dangal Warriors) def. Guzman Lopez Yusneylis (Maharashtra Kesari) 7-0
Bout 4 | 62kg (Women): Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova (Maharashtra Kesari) def. Anjli (Delhi Dangal Warriors) 10-2
Bout 5 | 125kg (Men): Robert Baran (Maharashtra Kesari) def. Ronak (Delhi Dangal Warriors) 5-0
Bout 6 | 74kg (Men): Turan Bayramov (Delhi Dangal Warriors) def. Yash (Maharashtra Kesari) 14-10
Bout 7 | 76kg (Women): Anastasiya Alpyeeva (Delhi Dangal Warriors) def. Harshita Mor (Maharashtra Kesari) by Fall (6-2)
Bout 8 | 86kg (Men): Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar (Delhi Dangal Warriors) def. Amit (Maharashtra Kesari) 5-3
Bout 9 | 65kg (Men): Sujeet Kalkal (Delhi Dangal Warriors) def. Tevanyan Vazgen (Maharashtra Kesari) 6-2