Punjab edge past Haryana to win PWL

New Delhi, January 19

It went down to the wire before Jitendra beat Sumit Sehrawat in the decider as Punjab Royals bagged the Pro Wrestling League Season 2 title by prevailing 5-4 over Haryana Hammers.

Haryana, hitherto undefeated in the tournament, failed to cross the last hurdle even as Punjab reigned supreme with their imports Vladimir Khinchegashvili, Vasilisa Marzaliuk and Ilias Bekbukatov, along with India’s Nirmala and Jitendra, doing the damage in crucial ties.

After falling behind 0-2 and then 1-3, Punjab fought back to make it 3-3. The encounter of the evening was the fight between two stalwarts – Haryana’s Sofia Mattsson and Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye. Mattsson prevailed 4-3 in the women’s 53kg bout to put Haryana 4-3 ahead. It was Odunayo’s first loss in the two seasons of PWL. But Punjab bounced back with Nirmala beating Indu Chaudhary 5-2 in the women’s 48kg. In the decider, Jitendra thrashed Sehrawat 10-1 in the men’s 74kg bout. — PTI