Ana Godinez rose to the moment when it mattered most, producing a commanding performance in the decisive 62kg women’s bout to steer Punjab Royals to a crucial 5–4 victory over Maharashtra Kesari in Match 12 of the Pro Wrestling League, PWL 2026 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday night.
In a contest that swung dramatically after a dominant Punjab start and a spirited Maharashtra fightback, it was the Mexican star’s authority and composure that ultimately separated the two sides.
The result had significant implications for the standings. Maharashtra Kesari, despite the defeat, concluded their league campaign with three wins from four matches, finishing on six points with 23 bout victories. Punjab Royals, meanwhile, climbed to third place with six points from four matches and 18 bout wins, keeping their playoff ambitions firmly on track. Priya Malik was named Player of the Match for her emphatic performance, while Maharashtra’s Atish Thodkar earned Fighter of the Match honours for his relentless display in the men’s 57kg category.
Punjab began the night in assertive fashion. In the opening 53kg women’s bout, Meenakshi produced a composed and tactically astute performance against Paris Olympic silver medallist Guzman Lopez Yusneylis. From the outset, Meenakshi controlled the centre of the mat, drawing passivity and striking with well-timed takedowns. Her disciplined approach yielded a clean 6–0 victory, giving Punjab an early edge and setting the tone for what followed.
That advantage was quickly doubled in the 74kg men’s contest, where Asian champion Chandermohan put on a clinic against Yash. After drawing passivity in the first period, Chandermohan shifted gears, unleashing a series of powerful takedowns and turns across both periods. His relentless pressure left his opponent with no room to breathe, and the bout was wrapped up by an 18–0 technical superiority, pushing Punjab into a commanding 2–0 lead.
Maharashtra Kesari, however, showed their fighting spirit through their experienced captain Robert Baran in the heavyweight 125kg bout. Baran relied on his superior mat awareness and tactical nous to outmanoeuvre Punjab skipper Dinesh Dhankhar. A late takedown sealed a 10–1 win, keeping Maharashtra in touch and reminding Punjab that the tie was far from over.
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Any hopes of a sustained Maharashtra resurgence were quickly checked by Priya Malik. The former U20 and U23 world champion delivered one of the standout performances of the night in the 76kg women’s category. Priya struck early with a high-value takedown and followed it up with a series of turns that forced a fall inside the first period. The emphatic win not only restored Punjab’s two-bout cushion but also underlined Priya’s status as one of the most dominant wrestlers in the league.
The 86kg men’s bout provided the most competitive encounter of the opening half. Sandeep Maan and Amit engaged in a tense tactical duel, trading passivity points and cautious attacks. With the scores locked in the latter stages, Sandeep showed his composure under pressure, executing a crucial takedown and a push-out to edge the contest 8–7. That narrow victory stretched Punjab’s lead to 4–1 and put them firmly in control at the halfway mark.
Maharashtra, though, were not done yet. Atish Thodkar ignited their comeback in the 57kg men’s category with a high-octane performance against Chirag Chhikara. Thodkar mixed explosive takedowns with clever transitions, managing the closing exchanges smartly to secure a 13–10 win and reduce the deficit to 4–2.
The momentum stayed with Maharashtra in the 57kg women’s bout, where Manisha Bhanvala edged Rajnita Jangra 2–1 in a tightly fought contest. It was a match of fine margins, with both wrestlers cancelling each other out for long stretches, but Manisha’s late scoring proved decisive and brought Maharashtra within touching distance at 4–3.
With the tie hanging in the balance, all eyes turned to the 62kg women’s bout and Ana Godinez delivered in style. From the opening whistle, Godinez imposed herself, controlling the centre of the mat and dictating the tempo. She mixed crisp takedowns with sharp exposures and a timely push-out, steadily pulling away from Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova. By the end of the bout, Godinez had secured a comprehensive 11–2 victory, sealing Punjab’s fifth win and the match itself.
Maharashtra finished the night on a high through Tevanyan Vazgen in the 65kg men’s contest, as he overpowered Anuj Kumar with a series of clean takedowns and throws to register a 12–0 shutout. The result, however, was only a consolation, as Punjab Royals had already done enough to clinch a vital 5–4 triumph.
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As the Pro Wrestling League heads into its next matchday, Punjab Royals will take heart from a gritty, pressure-tested performance that showcased both their depth and resilience. For Maharashtra Kesari, the narrow defeat did little to diminish an otherwise strong league campaign, but on this night, it was Ana Godinez’s calm authority that proved decisive.
