Maharashtra, Jan 24 : Kesari climbed to the summit of the Pro Wrestling League 2026 standings after Amit delivered a composed performance in the decisive final bout to edge past Haryana Thunders 5–4 in a gripping contest at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Friday.
With the tie finely balanced at 4–4, Amit produced a tactically astute display in the 86kg men’s category, overcoming Ashirov Ashraf by a single point to secure a crucial victory that lifted Maharashtra to six points from four matches. The result handed Haryana Thunders their first defeat of the season in Match 10 of the league.
The encounter swung repeatedly in momentum, underlining the quality and depth of both line-ups. Tevanyan Vazgen was named Player of the Match for his dominant display in the men’s 65kg category, while Kajal Dhochhak claimed Fighter of the Match honours after forcing the contest into a dramatic decider.
Early Haryana surge, Maharashtra fight back
Haryana made an emphatic start through captain Yui Susaki in the opening 53kg women’s bout, where the Olympic champion overwhelmed her opponent with swift takedowns and exposure moves before securing a fall inside two minutes. The lead was extended in the 74kg men’s contest as Parvinder capitalised during the Power Minute to pull clear late and register a convincing win.
Maharashtra Kesari responded in the heavyweight category, with captain Robert Baran showing patience and control to outmanoeuvre Anirudh Gulia in the closing stages. The momentum shift continued in the 62kg women’s bout, where Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova turned the tide in the second period with well-timed attacks to level the overall score.
Momentum swings set up dramatic finish
Manisha Bhanvala edged a tightly fought 57kg women’s contest to give Maharashtra the lead at the midway point, before Tevanyan Vazgen delivered a statement performance in the 65kg men’s category. Vazgen seized control in the second period, producing a decisive scoring burst to extend Maharashtra’s advantage.
Haryana refused to relent. Ankush Chandram controlled the tempo in the 57kg men’s bout to close the gap, before Kajal Dhochhak powered through the 76kg women’s contest with relentless pressure and a fall, drawing the teams level and setting up a winner-takes-all finale.
Amit delivers under pressure
In the final bout of the night, Amit struck early and managed the closing stages with maturity as Ashraf attempted a late comeback. The narrow win proved enough to seal the tie and cap a high-intensity encounter that showcased the competitive balance of the league.
Maharashtra Kesari now sit atop the PWL 2026 table, while Haryana Thunders will look to bounce back from their first setback of the campaign.