UP Dominators produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds of Pro Wrestling League 2026, clawing their way back from a 4–1 deficit to defeat Delhi Dangal Warriors 5–4 in Match 7 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
What initially appeared to be a comfortable outing for Delhi transformed into a gripping contest of momentum shifts, resilience, and decisive individual performances, as UP found answers at every critical juncture to seal a memorable comeback victory.
Delhi Dangal Warriors made a strong start to the tie, asserting control early through disciplined wrestling and tactical clarity. The opening bout in the 86kg men’s category saw Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar use effective par terre work to build a first-period cushion against Mykhailov Vasyl. Despite a late push from the UP wrestler, Bakhtiar held firm to close out a 7–4 win and give Delhi the early lead.
That advantage was doubled in the 76kg women’s contest, where Anastasiya Alpyeyeva showcased her class and composure. After conceding an early takedown, Alpyeyeva took control of the bout with superior positioning and timing, finishing with a decisive takedown-and-turn sequence to register an emphatic 11–2 victory. Her performance underlined Delhi’s authority in the opening phase of the tie and later earned her the Fighter of the Match honour.
Momentum remained firmly with Delhi in the 74kg men’s category as Turan Bayramov delivered a tactically sound performance. Wrestling with patience and discipline, Bayramov neutralised Abhimanyu Mandwal’s attacks and edged out a 3–0 win, extending Delhi’s lead to 3–0 and tightening their grip on the contest.
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UP Dominators finally found a breakthrough in the 57kg women’s category, where U20 World Champion Tapsya Gahlawat wrestled with maturity and confidence. Gahlawat combined an early push-out and activity point with sharp second-period takedowns to secure an 8–2 victory, putting UP on the scoreboard and providing the spark they desperately needed.
Delhi responded in commanding fashion in the 65kg men’s bout, as captain Sujeet Kalkal delivered one of the most dominant performances of the night. Kalkal overwhelmed Vishal Kali Raman with relentless attacks, repeatedly scoring through takedowns and exposure sequences. Accelerating during the Power Minute, he sealed a technical superiority win to push Delhi to a 4–1 advantage, seemingly placing the tie out of reach.
The turning point arrived in the 57kg men’s contest. Rahul Deswal, after conceding early push-outs, staged a spirited comeback by swinging the bout with a sharp takedown-and-exposure sequence in the first period. He then sealed the win in the Power Minute with a decisive four-point takedown, defeating Shubham Kaushik 8–5 and keeping UP’s hopes alive.
UP’s resurgence gathered momentum in the heavyweight category, where Jaspooran Singh wrestled with control and composure against Ronak. By managing the centre of the mat and limiting risk, Jaspooran secured a crucial 3–1 win, cutting the deficit to just one bout and shifting pressure squarely onto Delhi.
Captain Nisha Dahiya rose to the occasion in the 62kg women’s contest, delivering under intense pressure. In a high-energy bout against Anjli, Dahiya relied on sustained attacking wrestling and smart bout management to edge out a 9–5 victory, levelling the team score at 4–4 and setting up a decisive final bout.
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With the match on the line, Olympian Antim Panghal produced a commanding performance in the 53kg women’s category. From the opening exchanges, Panghal imposed her authority, striking repeatedly with clean takedowns and accelerating in the closing phase with a high-value takedown-and-exposure sequence. Despite a late push-out from Saarika, Panghal’s relentless offence brought the bout to an early end by technical superiority, completing UP Dominators’ remarkable comeback and sealing the full two points.
The result propelled UP Dominators to the top of the standings and reinforced the unpredictable nature of the Pro Wrestling League, where momentum can swing rapidly through composure, depth, and execution under pressure. Delhi Dangal Warriors, despite the defeat, will take positives from their early dominance and standout individual performances as they look to rebound in the remaining fixtures.
Pro Wrestling League 2026 continues to deliver high-intensity action and dramatic narratives, and this contest served as a reminder that no lead is safe when resilience and belief come into play.
