Haryana Thunders couldn’t have asked for a better start to their Pro Wrestling League 2026 campaign, breezing past Punjab Royals 7–2 in their season opener on Friday night. They set the pace early and Punjab were never really able to get a foothold across the nine bouts that followed. Neha Sangwan was named Player of the Match for an emphatic 8–0 win over Punjab captain Roksana Zasina in the 57kg women’s category, while U23 World Champion and Asian Championships bronze medallist Priya Malik picked up Fighter of the Match for her gutsy effort in a closely fought 76kg bout.
The Pro Wrestling League 2026 is being held at the Noida Indoor Stadium from January 15 to February 1, 2026, with live coverage on Sony Sports Ten 4 and Ten 5, and streaming on Sony LIV.
It was a tight opening bout, with Ashirov Ashraf needing a late defensive stand to see off Tariel Gaphrindashvili 6–5 in the 86kg category. Ashraf built a cushion through an early exposure move and then had to dig in as his opponent came at him hard in the closing stages, ultimately holding on for the win.
For a short while, it looked like Punjab might level things up: Chandermohan made the most of a strong Power Minute to see off Parvinder 13–6 in the 74kg bout.
Punjab’s joy didn’t last long. Neha Sangwan responded right away, blanking Roksana Zasina 8–0 in the 57kg women’s bout to hand the lead straight back to Haryana.
Iryna Koliadenko then put the result further out of reach, the two-time Olympic medallist putting together a string of scoring moves in the second period to see off Ana Godinez 15–2 in the 62kg category.
Haryana kept up the pressure as Ankush Chandram got the better of Chirag Chhikara 5–2 in the 57kg men’s bout, before Tumur Ochir Tulga produced one of the night’s standout performances, blowing past Islam Guseinov 15–0 by technical superiority in the 65kg category.
The tightest contest of the night came in the 76kg women’s bout, where Fighter of the Match Priya Malik tested Kajal Dhochhak right to the wire. Locked at 2–2, Kajal came out on top on the last point scored, putting Haryana 6–1 up. Punjab did manage to claw one back through Dinesh Dhankar, who beat Anirudh Gulia 7–3 in the heavyweight bout to make it 6–2.
The night’s final bout, between Haryana Thunders’ Yui Susaki and Hanshika Lamba, went the way of the former Olympic champion, two-time Olympic medallist and four-time world champion by forfeit, rounding off a commanding 7–2 win for Haryana Thunders.
Day three of the Pro Wrestling League will be a double header, with Tiigers of Mumbai facing UP Dominators at 6:30 PM, followed by Delhi Dangal Warriors against Haryana Thunders at 8:00 PM.
Bout 1: 86kg (Men): Ashirov Ashraf (Haryana Thunders) bt Tariel Gaphrindashvili (Punjab Royals), 6–5
Bout 2: 74kg (Men): Chandermohan (Punjab Royals) bt Parvinder (Haryana Thunders), 13–6
Bout 3: 57kg (Women): Neha Sangwan (Haryana Thunders) bt Roksana Zasina (Punjab Royals), 8–0
Bout 4: 62kg (Women): Iryna Koliadenko (Haryana Thunders) bt Ana Godinez (Punjab Royals), 15–2
Bout 5: 57kg (Men): Ankush Chandram (Haryana Thunders) bt Chirag Chhikara (Punjab Royals), 5–2
Bout 6: 65kg (Men): Tumur Ochir Tulga (Haryana Thunders) bt Islam Guseinov (Punjab Royals), by technical superiority (15–0)
Bout 7: 76kg (Women): Kajal Dhochhak (Haryana Thunders) bt Priya Malik (Punjab Royals), on last point scored (2–2)
Bout 8: 125kg (Men): Dinesh Dhankar (Punjab Royals) bt Anirudh Gulia (Haryana Thunders), 7–3
Bout 9: 53kg (Men): Yui Susaki (Haryana Thunders) bt Hanshika Lamba (Punjab Royals), by forfeit
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