Haryana Thunders were crowned champions of the Pro Wrestling League 2026 after surviving an extraordinary, edge-of-the-seat final against Delhi Dangal Warriors at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday night.
In a contest that swung violently from bout to bout, the title was decided only in the very last match, where Paris Olympic silver medallist Iryna Koliadenko delivered under immense pressure to secure a 5–4 victory for Haryana and cap one of the most dramatic finals in the league’s history.
With both teams locked at 4–4 after eight bouts, everything came down to the women’s 62kg contest. Koliadenko, facing Anjli with the championship on the line, produced a ruthless display of control, transitions and exposure points, winning by technical superiority 16–0 to spark wild celebrations in the Haryana camp. It was a fitting finish to a season that had been defined by razor-thin margins and relentless intensity.
Haryana Thunders walked away with the ₹1.5 crore winners’ cheque and the PWL 2026 trophy, while runners-up Delhi Dangal Warriors earned ₹75 lakh for their valiant campaign. Individually, Delhi’s Turan Bayramov was named Player of the Tournament after a flawless 7-out-of-7 run in the men’s 74kg category, collecting 59 points across the season. Chandermohan of Punjab Royals finished as the highest overall points scorer in the league.
On a night full of standout performances, Neha Sangwan (Haryana) was named Player of the Match for keeping the contest alive heading into the final bout, while Ronak (Delhi) won Fighter of the Match for his dominant showing in the heavyweight division.
Haryana’s Akshay Dhere was awarded Impact Player of the Match for his commanding win in the men’s 57kg bout.
A final that never let up
The final began at a furious pace, and Delhi struck first through their talisman Turan Bayramov. Undefeated through the season, the Azerbaijani star continued his perfect run by overpowering Parvinder 8–2 in the men’s 74kg bout to give Delhi an early 1–0 lead.
Haryana hit back immediately in the women’s 76kg category. U20 world champion Kajal Dhochack produced a composed and tactical display to edge past European champion Anastasiya Alpyeeva 3–1, bringing the tie level and setting the tone for the tug-of-war that would follow.
Momentum swung again in Delhi’s favour in the men’s 65kg bout, where captain Sujeet Kalkal produced one of the performances of the night. Facing world championship silver medallist Tumur Ochir Tulga, Kalkal absorbed pressure before unleashing a late scoring burst to seal an 8–6 victory and restore Delhi’s advantage.
Haryana, however, had an ace of their own. Olympic and multiple-time world champion Yui Susaki reminded everyone of her pedigree in the women’s 53kg bout, demolishing Saarika by technical superiority 15–0 to make it 2–2.
The pattern continued in the men’s 86kg category as Delhi’s Asian Championship bronze medallist Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar produced a brutal display of power and control to beat Ashirov Ashraf 11–0, putting Delhi back in front at 3–2.
Haryana refused to fold. Akshay Dhere, wrestling in the men’s 57kg bout, overwhelmed Amit Kumar with relentless offense and secured a 16–0 technical superiority win to once again level the contest.
The heavyweight clash then threatened to tilt the final decisively Delhi’s way. Ronak delivered one of the most dominant performances of the night, overpowering Anirudh Gulia 12–2 to hand Delhi a 4–3 lead with just two bouts remaining.
With Haryana on the brink, Neha Sangwan stepped up in the women’s 57kg contest. Showing remarkable composure and aggression, she pinned Anjali to win by fall and bring the team scores back to 4–4, setting up a winner-takes-all decider.
Koliadenko seals it
All eyes were on the mat for the final bout, the women’s 62kg clash. With the championship at stake, Iryna Koliadenko showcased why she is one of the most feared wrestlers in the world.
She dominated Anjli from the opening exchange, chaining together takedowns, turns and exposures in a relentless sequence. The bout was over in a flash a 16–0 technical superiority win that delivered the title to Haryana Thunders and sent their bench into raptures.
It was the perfect ending to a season that had showcased the very best of professional wrestling international stars, emerging Indian talent, and a league format that rewards both consistency and courage under pressure.
Haryana Thunders’ triumph not only underlined their status as the most balanced and resilient team of PWL 2026, but also brought the curtain down on a season that reaffirmed the league’s place as one of the most compelling properties in Indian sport.
