In one of the most gripping ties of the Pro Wrestling League, PWL 2026 so far, Maharashtra Kesari edged past UP Dominators 5–4 in Match 9 at the Noida Indoor Stadium, thanks to a stunning late fall by Harshita Mor in the women’s 76kg bout.
The result lifted Maharashtra Kesari to second place on the league table with four points and 14 bout wins, while UP Dominators, despite the narrow defeat, retained their position at the top with four points and a superior tally of 20 bout wins.
The night belonged to Harshita Mor, whose fearless comeback under pressure sealed the team victory and earned her the Player of the Match award. UP Dominators’ Tapsya Gahlawat was named Fighter of the Match for her spirited display earlier in the tie.
UP Dominators made a powerful start to the contest in the 86kg men’s bout. Mykhailov Vasyl set the tone with an assertive performance against Amit of Maharashtra Kesari. After conceding an early push-out, Vasyl responded with a flurry of takedowns and turn-and-exposure sequences in the first period. He continued to dictate terms in the second period, closing out a convincing 15–3 victory to give UP an early 1–0 lead.
That advantage was quickly doubled in the 57kg women’s category as Tapsya Gahlawat produced a brilliant comeback against Manisha Bhanvala. In a high-scoring contest, Gahlawat found her moment during the Power Minute, executing a decisive takedown-and-turn sequence to overturn the momentum and edge the bout 12–9, putting UP Dominators firmly in control at 2–0.
Maharashtra Kesari needed a response, and their captain Robert Baran delivered it in the 125kg heavyweight bout. Wrestling with authority and precision, Baran used timely takedowns and a key exposure in the closing stages to defeat Jaspooran Singh 10–2, pulling one point back for his side.
The momentum continued to swing in Maharashtra’s favour in the 74kg men’s bout. Yash displayed patience and tactical awareness against Abhimanyu Mandwal, accumulating push-outs and activity points before finishing strongly with a late takedown to secure a 5–2 win and level the overall tie at 2–2.
The hosts then took the lead for the first time in the 65kg men’s contest. Tevanyan Vazgen and Vishal Kali Raman were locked in a tightly fought battle, but Vazgen struck first with a clean takedown. After withstanding Raman’s second-period surge, Vazgen sealed the bout with a decisive late takedown to clinch a narrow 4–3 victory, moving Maharashtra ahead 3–2.
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Maharashtra extended their advantage in the 57kg men’s category, where Atish Thodkar outlasted Rahul Deswal in a breathless exchange of attacks. Both wrestlers traded scores relentlessly, but Thodkar’s superior control in the middle phases and crucial exposure points proved decisive in a thrilling 15–13 win, pushing Maharashtra to a 4–2 lead.
UP Dominators refused to give up and clawed their way back through Nisha Dahiya in the 62kg women’s bout. Dahiya produced a composed, tactical performance, opening with a sharp takedown and shutting down Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova’s offence to secure an 8–1 victory, reducing the deficit to 4–3 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
That drama arrived in the 76kg women’s contest, which turned out to be the defining moment of the night. Harshita Mor faced Ojo Damola Hannah, who built an early lead through multiple exposures and looked on course to level the tie. But Harshita showed remarkable composure and awareness, waiting for her opportunity before launching a decisive late attack. In a breathtaking sequence, she secured a fall, instantly swinging the match in Maharashtra Kesari’s favour and sealing the overall team victory.
With the tie already decided, the final bout of the night saw UP Dominators take a consolation win in the 53kg women’s category. Antim Panghal delivered a controlled performance against Paris Olympic medallist Guzman Lopez Yusneylis, winning 5–0 on points. However, the result came too late to change the outcome, with Maharashtra Kesari clinching the tie 5–4.
The result reshuffled the top of the standings. Maharashtra Kesari’s hard-fought win moved them into second place with four points and 14 bout wins, while UP Dominators remained on top on the same points but with a superior 20 bout wins.
After the intensity of Matchday Seven, the league will now pause for a rest day. Action resumes on Friday, January 23, when Haryana Thunders face Maharashtra Kesari at the Noida Indoor Stadium in what promises to be another crucial encounter in the PWL 2026 playoff race.
