PWL-4: Delhi look to stop Haryana's winning spree (Preview)

All eyes will be on Sakshi Malik's 62 kg category clash with Tayana Omelchenko of Azerbaijan when Delhi Sultans take on Haryana Hammers on Tuesday in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) Season 4 currently underway at the Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium here.

Runners-up in the last three seasons, Haryana Hammers are on a winning spree right now having defeated UP Dangal and MP Yodha in their previous encounters whereas Delhi have had a rollercoaster ride so far losing against MP Yodha, winning against UP and then again going down to Punjab Royals.

Interestingly, there are two foreigners in the women's 62 kg weight category in PWL-4. Both of them are from Azerbaijan and both of them are medal winners in the world championships.

In Delhi's clash against MP, that category was blocked preventing the Sakshi-Elise Manolova bout from taking place. But, this time, fans will expect Sakshi to get the better of Tayana and put an end to the European domination in this group.

Apart from this, the women's 53 kg clash between Seema of Haryana and Delhi's Pinki is also expected to be a cracker of a contest. Pinki is on a roll at the moment and she has reasons to be confident having beaten the 2017 world champion Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in an earlier clash.

Haryana's Ravi Kumar, who defeated the experienced Sandeep Tomar in a one-sided encounter in his last bout, definitely holds the edge over Delhi's Pankaj in the 57 kg category.

Rajneesh, who is coming back from an injury looks to be in great form at the moment and he is eager to cause an upset by beating Andrey Kviatkoski in the 65 kg category.

The Hammers co-owner Bhupender said his team is the most balanced team in this PWL and will leave no stone unturned to win the title this year.

Delhi coach Sujeet Maan said Pinki is making up for Katherina Zhydachivska's lack of form this season and he is expecting the Romanian to come good in their match against Haryana.

Squads:

Delhi Sultans: Pinki (53 Kg), Pankaj (57 Kg), Katherina Zhydachivska (57 Kg), Sakshi Malik (58 Kg), kviatkoski Andrey (65 Kg), Khetik Tsabolov (74 Kg), Shustovo Anastasia (76 Kg), Praveen (86 Kg) Satender Malik (125 Kg)

Haryana Hammers: Seema (53 Kg), Anastasia Nichita (57 Kg), Ravi Kumar (57 Kg), Tayana Omelchenko (62 Kg), Rajnesh (65 Kg), Praveen Rana (74 Kg), Kiran (76 Kg), Ali Shabanov (86 Kg), Khotsianivski Aleksander (125 Kg).

--IANS

tri/bg