Delhi Dangal Warriors held their nerve in a dramatic final league encounter of the Pro Wrestling League 2026, defeating Punjab Royals 5–4 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Wednesday to book a place in the semi-finals.
In a match that swung repeatedly between the two teams, Delhi produced their best collective performance of the season when it mattered most, finishing second on the league table with six points and 24 bout wins.
Punjab had already secured qualification before the tie began, but the match was far from a formality. For Delhi, however, everything was on the line. They needed an outright victory to avoid being pushed out of the top four on technical criteria, and the pressure was visible from the opening bout.
Punjab strike first, Delhi hit back
The Royals made the early running in the 76kg women’s category, where Priya Malik outwrestled Anastasiya Alpyeeva in a low-scoring tactical battle to put Punjab 1–0 ahead. Malik stayed compact, defended well and did just enough to deny Alpyeeva any rhythm.
Delhi responded with force in the 86kg men’s bout. Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar overwhelmed Sandeep Maan with relentless attacks, racking up points through a series of takedowns and exposures to claim a dominant 20–7 win. That emphatic display not only levelled the tie but also injected belief into the Delhi camp.
That momentum carried into the 65kg men’s category, where Delhi captain Sujeet Kalkal delivered a clinical performance against Anuj Kumar. Kalkal controlled the mat from the opening exchanges, scoring consistently and shutting down any attempts at counter-attack to seal a commanding 10–1 victory. Delhi now led 2–1 and were beginning to dictate terms.
Delhi build a cushion, Punjab fight back
The advantage grew further in the 57kg men’s contest as Shubham Kaushik put in one of his most composed displays of the season. Kaushik barely allowed Chirag Chhikara a look-in, producing a 9–0 shutout that took Delhi into a 3–1 lead and closer to a semi-final berth. But Punjab were not ready to roll over. In the 57kg women’s bout, Rajnita Jangra wrestled with authority to beat Karla Godinez Gonzalez 5–1, narrowing the gap to 3–2 and shifting the momentum back towards the Royals.
That swing intensified in the 62kg women’s category, which produced one of the highlights of the evening. Ana Godinez, who would go on to be named Fighter of the Match, delivered a superb performance against Anjli. Godinez stunned the arena with a massive five-point throw in the opening period and then showed great composure to withstand a late surge from Anjli, closing out an 11–7 victory to bring Punjab level at 3–3.
Punjab edge ahead, tension rises
With the tie suddenly wide open, Punjab seized the initiative in the 53kg women’s contest. Meenakshi was in complete control against Saarika, building up a commanding lead before the bout was stopped due to injury. The result put Punjab ahead 4–3, leaving Delhi’s semi-final hopes hanging by a thread. Everything now rested on the shoulders of Turan Bayramov in the crucial 74kg men’s bout. Facing U23 Asian champion Chandermohan, Bayramov had to deliver a win for Delhi to stay alive in the competition.
What followed was a statement performance. Bayramov weathered some early pressure before shifting into a higher gear, unleashing a series of sharp takedowns and exposures that completely turned the contest in his favour. His 18–8 victory was as decisive as it was timely, levelling the team score at 4–4 and, in the process, mathematically confirming Delhi’s place in the semi-finals.
It was a moment that captured Bayramov’s importance to the Warriors’ campaign and earned him the Player of the Match award. The final bout of the evening, in the 125kg men’s category, was decided by forfeit in Delhi’s favour, handing Ronak the win and sealing a 5–4 triumph that sent the Delhi bench into celebration.
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The result lifted Delhi Dangal Warriors to second place in the standings with six points and 24 bout wins, a remarkable turnaround after an inconsistent start to their campaign. Punjab Royals, who had already secured qualification, finished fourth with six points and 23 bout wins.
The focus now shifts to the knockout phase. Top-ranked Haryana Thunders will face Punjab Royals in the first semi-final on Thursday, with Delhi awaiting their opponent in what promises to be a fiercely contested battle for a place in the PWL 2026 final. For Delhi, however, this night belonged to resilience, timing and a clutch performance from Turan Bayramov a reminder that in the Pro Wrestling League, it is not just how you start, but how you finish that defines your season.
