Punjab Royals produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the Pro Wrestling League 2026, storming back from a 3–1 deficit to defeat Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals 6–3 in a gripping Day 6 contest at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night.
What began as a dominant display from the Tiigers rapidly transformed into a Punjab masterclass, as the Royals reeled off five consecutive bout victories to snatch the tie and underline their growing momentum in Season 5.
The evening swung decisively on the back of Punjab’s women wrestlers, who delivered under pressure and flipped the narrative of the contest. The comeback was ignited in the women’s 57kg bout by Rajnita Jangra, whose emphatic fall levelled the tie, before Chandermohan’s composed win in the men’s 74kg category gave Punjab the lead for the first time. Meenakshi then sealed the result with a commanding technical superiority victory, capping a surge that showcased Punjab’s depth, resilience and tactical clarity.
Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals had seized early control of the tie through an explosive opening stretch. In the 86kg men’s bout, Mukul Dahiya set the tone with a dominant performance against Tariel Gaphrindashvili, overwhelming the Georgian with relentless attacks to secure a technical superiority win. The result handed Tiigers an early advantage and injected confidence into their corner.
Punjab responded swiftly in the women’s 62kg contest, where Commonwealth silver medallist Ana Godinez delivered a statement performance. Wrestling with authority and precision, Godinez repeatedly broke through Sarika Malik’s defence, piling on points through takedowns and exposure sequences before closing the bout by fall. Her performance not only levelled the tie but also set the benchmark for Punjab’s women on the night. Godinez was later deservedly named Player of the Match.
Momentum, however, swung back in Tiigers’ favour in the 65kg men’s category. Rohit Rahal produced one of the standout bouts of the evening, recovering from an early push-out to dominate Paris Olympic medallist Islam Guseinov. Rahal’s aggressive approach culminated in a fall, drawing loud applause and restoring Tiigers’ lead.
The Tiigers further tightened their grip in the 57kg men’s contest, as captain Aman Sehrawat showcased his class and composure. The Paris Olympic bronze medallist put on an attacking exhibition against Chirag Chhikara, racking up points with ease in a 17–7 victory that pushed Tiigers into a commanding 3–1 lead. At that stage, Punjab Royals appeared to be staring down the barrel of defeat.
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What followed, however, was a remarkable shift in momentum. Punjab began their resurgence in the women’s 76kg bout through Priya Malik, who delivered a disciplined and tactically astute performance. Malik kept Jyoti Berwal under constant pressure, drawing an activity point in the first period before asserting complete control in the second with successive takedowns. Her 10–0 shutout not only reduced the deficit but also injected belief back into the Punjab camp.
The tie was brought level at 3–3 in the women’s 57kg contest, where national champion Rajnita Jangra produced a clinical display. Striking early with a takedown, Jangra continued to build pressure in the second period, executing a clean turn-and-exposure sequence before securing a decisive fall. Her victory proved to be the emotional turning point of the evening, swinging momentum firmly in Punjab’s favour.
Punjab took the lead for the first time in the men’s 74kg category through Chandermohan, who prevailed in one of the most competitive bouts of the night. Facing National Games champion Naveen Malik, Chandermohan capitalised on a high-value exposure sequence in the opening period and held his nerve under pressure in the second to secure a 15–9 win. The result put Punjab ahead 4–3 and left Tiigers scrambling for answers.
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The decisive blow was delivered in the women’s 53kg contest by Meenakshi. From the opening whistle, she imposed herself on the bout, exploiting early passivity and piling on points through successive takedowns and turns. Accelerating relentlessly, Meenakshi closed the contest by technical superiority, handing Punjab their fifth straight win and effectively sealing the tie.
Punjab closed the night in emphatic fashion through captain Dinesh Dhankhar in the 125kg men’s bout. In a high-scoring heavyweight clash, Dhankhar edged world championship medallist Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi 7–6, securing Punjab’s sixth win and putting an exclamation mark on a stunning comeback.
With this victory, Punjab Royals not only showcased their depth across categories but also sent a clear message to the rest of the league about their resilience and title credentials. Day 7 of PWL 2026 promises more drama, as UP Dominators take on Maharashtra Kesari at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Wednesday night.
