UP Dangal clinch second win in PWL

New Delhi, January 13 

Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladzinskaya overcame Nigeria’s Odunayo Folasade to guide UP Dangal to their second successive victory in the Pro Wrestling League.

Vanesa beat Odunayo of Mumbai Maharathi 7-5 in the 57kg category to give her side an unassailable 4-2 lead in the tie. 

Asian champion Abdurakhmonov Bekzod scripted a crucial victory over Veer Dev in the 74kg event to put UP in the driving seat after the fifth bout. The Uzbek wrestler completed the rout (12-0) with over three minutes left in the bout.

Rio Olympics gold medallist Soslan Romonov beat Bajrang Punia to register his side’s third point but could not prevent a 3-4 defeat for his team. Earlier, the Maharathis won the toss and blocked heavyweight Jamaladdin Magomedov of Azerbaijan; the Dangals promptly decided to keep Frenchwoman Cynthia Vescon out. 

In the lung-opener, Nitin downed World Championships bronze medallist Yatsenko Andrey 4-3 in the 57kg bout. Vinesh Phogat beat Seema 10-0 in the 50kg bout. Satyawart Kadian defeated UP’s Vicky 10-2 in the 92kg contest. Sakshi Malik (62kg) toyed with young Reshma Mane (16-2) who came in as a last-minute replacement for Geeta Phogat. — PTI