Haryana Thunders announced their arrival in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 in emphatic fashion, registering a commanding 7–2 victory over Punjab Royals in their opening fixture at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Friday night.
Delivering dominance across multiple weight categories, Haryana set the tone early and never allowed Punjab a foothold, combining tactical discipline with raw scoring power to underline their title credentials.
The tie was highlighted by a flawless performance from Neha Sangwan, who was named Player of the Match after dismantling Punjab captain Roksana Zasina 8–0 in the women’s 57kg bout. Meanwhile, Priya Malik, the U23 world champion and Asian Championships bronze medallist, earned the Fighter of the Match award for her gritty showing in the tightly contested women’s 76kg bout, despite narrowly losing on the last point scored.
Haryana began the evening with intent in the opening men’s 86kg bout, where Ashirov Ashraf edged past Tariel Gaphrindashvili 6–5 in a tense contest. Ashraf established early control and made a crucial exposure count, holding off a late Punjab surge to give Haryana an early lead. Punjab responded swiftly through Chandermohan in the men’s 74kg category, producing one of their strongest performances of the night. Capitalising heavily during the Power Minute, Chandermohan surged to a commanding 13–6 win over Parvinder, briefly restoring parity at 1–1.
That moment, however, proved to be Punjab’s only spell of balance in the tie. From there on, Haryana Thunders seized complete control. Neha Sangwan’s bout against Zasina was a masterclass in mat control, as she dictated every exchange, denied her opponent any scoring opportunity, and raced to an emphatic 8–0 shutout. The result not only swung momentum decisively but also set the tone for a dominant middle phase of the contest.
The pressure intensified in the women’s 62kg bout, where two-time Olympic medallist Iryna Koliadenko overwhelmed Ana Godinez 15–2. Koliadenko unleashed a relentless scoring blitz, particularly in the second period, showcasing her experience and physical superiority to stretch Haryana’s lead further. Her performance underlined the depth and quality of Haryana’s women’s lineup.
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Haryana’s momentum carried seamlessly into the men’s bouts. Ankush Chandram displayed composure and control in the 57kg category, securing a 5–2 win over Chirag Chhikara by managing the pace and capitalising on key moments. That was followed by one of the most one-sided contests of the night, as Tumur Ochir Tulga produced a stunning display of dominance in the men’s 65kg bout. Tulga overwhelmed Islam Guseinov by technical superiority (15–0), ending the contest early and pushing Haryana to a commanding 5–1 lead.
The most competitive bout of the tie came in the women’s 76kg category, where Priya Malik faced Kajal Dhochhak in a gripping encounter. Malik, wrestling with intensity and resilience, matched Dhochhak point for point in a low-scoring tactical battle. With the score locked at 2–2, Dhochhak edged the contest on the last point scored, extending Haryana’s lead to 6–1 but also highlighting Malik’s fighting spirit and potential under pressure.
Punjab managed to claw one back in the heavyweight men’s 125kg bout, as Dinesh Dhankar defeated Anirudh Gulia 7–3. Dhankar used his strength effectively in the clinch and controlled the key exchanges to give Punjab their second and final point of the night, reducing the deficit to 6–2.
The tie was officially sealed in the final bout, as Haryana’s Yui Susaki was awarded victory by forfeit against Hanshika Lamba in the 53kg category. The result ensured a comprehensive 7–2 win for Haryana Thunders, capping off a near-flawless start to their PWL 2026 campaign.
The Pro Wrestling League 2026 is being held at the Noida Indoor Stadium from January 15 to February 1, 2026, with all matches broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 4 and Ten 5, and streamed on Sony LIV.
Day three of the league will feature a double-header, with Tiigers of Mumbai vs UP Dominators at 6:30 PM, followed by Delhi Dangal Warriors vs Haryana Thunders at 8:00 PM, as the competition continues to gather momentum.
