Haryana Thunders capped off a commanding league-stage campaign at the Pro Wrestling League 2026 by defeating UP Dominators 6–3 in a gripping final round-robin encounter at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night.
The win not only confirmed Haryana’s supremacy on the night but also sealed their place at the summit of the standings, with the Thunders finishing the league phase on eight points from five matches and an imposing 29 bout wins. The spotlight fell on heavyweight Anirudh Gulia, whose emphatic victory in the eighth bout removed any lingering doubt about the outcome. By the time Gulia stepped onto the mat, the tie was delicately poised and every exchange carried the weight of the league’s top spot. His composed yet ruthless display delivered Haryana their decisive fifth win of the evening and ensured that the Thunders would go into the knockout stage as the number one seed.
The contest, however, was far from straightforward. After six bouts, the scoreboard read 3–3, reflecting the intense tug-of-war between two evenly matched sides. Haryana’s moment of breakthrough came in the seventh bout when Iryna Koliadenko produced a dramatic comeback by fall, turning the tide just when UP Dominators appeared to have seized momentum. For her defining contribution, the Ukrainian star was deservedly named Player of the Match. On the other side, Tapsya Gahlawat’s relentless effort earned her the Fighter of the Match accolade for UP.
Haryana began the evening by grinding out two narrow victories that hinted at the high-pressure nature of the tie. In the opening 76kg women’s bout, Kajal Dhochack and Mansi Lather were locked in a tactical duel. With the score tied at 3–3, Kajal’s ability to respond to an early takedown with a timely second-period takedown and a crucial passivity point proved decisive, allowing Haryana to edge ahead on last-point criteria. That slender lead was doubled in the 57kg men’s category when Ankush Chandram outmanoeuvred Rahul Deswal in another nerve-shredding 4–4 draw, once again clinched on the last point scored.
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UP Dominators struck back with purpose in the 57kg women’s bout through Tapsya Gahlawat. After an evenly matched opening phase, Tapsya exploded during the Power Minute, executing two clean takedowns that stretched the gap and secured a commanding 10–3 win. Her victory not only reduced the deficit but injected belief into the UP camp.
That belief grew stronger when Vishal Kali Raman delivered one of the most spirited performances of the night in the 65kg men’s category. Trailing Tumur Ochir Tulga for much of the bout, Vishal capitalised on passivity calls, successfully challenged a decision, and then produced a decisive Power Minute takedown followed by a push-out to turn the contest around and claim a 9–6 win. With that, the tie was level and the momentum had swung towards UP.
Haryana responded through their talismanic captain Yui Susaki in the marquee 53kg women’s bout. The former Olympic champion showcased her class by racing to an 8–0 lead with a flurry of turn-and-exposure sequences. Antim Panghal mounted a late rally to become the first wrestler to score against Susaki in PWL 2026, but Susaki’s tactical control ensured she closed out an 8–3 win and nudged Haryana back in front.
Yet again, UP found an answer. In the 86kg men’s bout, Mykhailov Vasyl displayed patience and precision against Ashirov Ashraf. After conceding early points, Vasyl forced a passivity call and then executed a stunning four-point takedown in the Power Minute to secure a 5–3 victory, bringing the tie back to 3–3 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The turning point arrived in the 62kg women’s contest. Nisha Dahiya struck first for UP with an early takedown, but Iryna Koliadenko refused to be rattled. In the second period, she unleashed a powerful takedown followed by a seamless turn sequence, forcing a fall that sent the Haryana bench into raptures and handed the Thunders a crucial 4–3 lead.
With the pressure firmly on UP, Anirudh Gulia took centre stage in the heavyweight bout. After Jaspooran Singh picked up early points through push-outs and a caution, Gulia asserted his dominance in the second period. A takedown-and-turn combination, followed by successive Power Minute takedowns, allowed him to pull clear for an authoritative 11–5 victory, sealing both the match and Haryana’s top-of-the-table finish.
Haryana rounded off the evening in style as Parvinder overcame Abhimanyu Mandwal 8–5 in the 74kg men’s bout, absorbing late pressure before responding with a crucial takedown to close out a comprehensive team performance.
With the league phase now complete for Haryana, their focus turns to the semi-finals, where they will look to convert league-stage dominance into championship glory. UP Dominators, meanwhile, finish fourth with two wins, four points and 23 bout wins, and must now await the outcome of the final league-stage fixture between Punjab Royals and Delhi Dangal Warriors to determine their fate.
As the Pro Wrestling League 2026 heads into its decisive phase, Haryana Thunders have sent a clear message: they are not just contenders, but the team everyone must now beat.
