PWL-4: Haryana Hammers edge past MP Yodha

The 2018 World U23 Championships silver medallist Haryana Hammers Ravi Kumar defeated the experienced Sandeep Tomar of MP Yodha in the mens 57kg category 10-1 to give his team their second win in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) Season 4 currently underway at the Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium here on Saturday. The Hammers won 4-3.

Junior world champion Anastasia Nichita of the Hammers won an important bout against Pooja Dhanda in an action-packed encounter where the needle swung constantly from one side to the other.

Pooja, known for her memorable comebacks, was trailing 0-3 after first round but the world champion didn't let the Indian dictate terms and hung on to finally win the bout 8-7 and push the tie to the decider.

Earlier, the 2018 World Championships bronze medallist Ali Shabanov of the Hammers played an aggressive first round in his 86kg bout against the 2017 Commonwealth Championships gold medallist Deepak of MP Yodha and pocketed eight points in a combination of take down and near fall.

Shabanov didn't give Deepak any chance of a comeback in the second round and put the Hammers 1-0 ahead.

MP Yodha's Colombian wrestler Andrea Olaya clinched the keenly fought women's 76kg bout against the 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kiran after some drama.

Kiran was leading 3-1 with just 30 seconds to go on the clock but the Colombian not only broke Kiran's resistance but also bagged three more points with a near fall to win 6-3 and tie the match score at 1-1.

The 65kg men's bout between MP Yodha's European Championships gold medallist from Azerbaijan Haji Aliyev and national champion Rajneesh was much more closely fought than the final score line suggests.

At 2-1, it almost looked like Rajneesh is on his way to cause a major upset, but Aliyev's experience helped him win the bout 5-2 with an escape and a takedown and put Yodha's ahead in the tie.

The best bout of the evening happened between MP Yodha's 2018 European Championships silver medallist Elise Monolova and 2018 European Championships bronze medallist Tatyana Omelchenko of the Hammers' in the female 62kg category.

Both Azerbaijan wrestlers showed tremendous skills and excellent manoeuvres before Tatyana clinched the bout 6-5 and help the Hammers restore parity at 2-2.

In a dramatic comeback, Vasil Mikhailov put MP Yodha ahead by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Praveen Rana of the Hammers in the men's 74kg category.

In a high-powered bout, Mikhailov was trailing 5-6 with less than 10 seconds on the clock, but he turned it around with a near fall and win it 7-6.

--IANS

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