Indian wrestlers Narsingh Yadav and Bajrang Punia lived up to their top billings as Bengaluru Yodhas posted a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Uttar Pradesh Warriors in a one-sided contest on the second day of the inaugural Pro Wrestling League (PWL) here today.
Babita Kumari was the lone grappler from UP Warriors to win her bout for her team and avoid a whitewash.
Bengaluru's icon player, Narsingh took his revenge against Unurbat Purevjav, who he had lost to at the World Championships. Interestingly, Narsingh stunned Purevjav in men's 74kg category with a rather easy 9-1 win.
Another big name of Indian wrestling, Bajrang got the better of compatriot Rahul Mann 10-2 to emerge victorious in men's 65kg division.
Other grapplers to win their bouts for Bengaluru were Sandeep Tomar (Men's 57kg), Alyssa Lampe (Women's 48kg), Yulia Ratkevich (Women's 58kg) and Pavlo Oliynik (Men's 97kg).
UP's Babita outplayed Lalita Sherawat 8-2 in women's 53kg category to restore some pride for her team.
While Bengaluru Yodhas bagged a total of 36 points from their wrestlers' efforts, UP could earn just 19 points.
Bengaluru won their first three bouts with Tomar defeating Sergey Ratushniy 4-2, followed by Lampe beating Oleksandra Kogut 5-4 and Bajrang posting a win to take a 3-0 lead.
It was Babita, who pulled one back to reduce the margin to 1-3 and keep alive UP's chances in the contest.
But Narsingh gave Bengaluru an unassailable 4-1 lead before Ratkevich defeated Ritu Malik 4-1 and Oliynik got the better of Satyavrat Kadian 2-1 to extend the margin of victory.
"Our team is very good. We have a great combination of Indian and international players. I am very hopeful that we will get a podium finish. I lost against Unurbat Purevjav in the World Championship, so it was a bright chance for me to take revenge and that too in front of my countrymen," said Narsingh.
"I came today with a desire to win and I played with all my efforts to fulfil my desire," he added.
The next one was a closely-fought battle, where Alina
Makhynia of Delhi tied the scores 2-2 by getting the better of Kiran of Haryana 2-1 in women's 75kg.
Delhi got a point for passivity to lead 1-0 after round one. In the second round, both wrestlers bagged a point each but the Ukrainian managed to have the last laugh with one-point lead.
Delhi had their hopes pinned on a fit again Bajrang Punia, who did not fight the last bout having sustaining an injury, but he failed to justify his tag of being the most expensive Indian wrestler at the PWL-2 auction with a whopping Rs 38 lakhs price tag.
Bajrang went down to Rajneesh 6-9 in one of the most aggressively fought bouts of the evening.
Initially, both wrestlers went neck-in-neck, but it was Rajnessh who wrestled control in the encounter, employing successful leg locks and tackles to emerge as a comfortable winner in the end, giving Haryana the advantage again.
In the absence of Sakshi, Marwa hardly had to break a sweat against Apoorva Tyagi as she registered a 10-0 win over the hapless Indian by 'win by fall' verdict to wrap up the match in style for the Hammers, who registered their third successive win in the event.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar came just on time to celebrate the Hammers victory at the KD Jadhav stadium.
In the inconsequential final bout, Rio Olympian Sandeep Tomar registered a came from behind win to extend Haryana's victory margin, defeating Mongolian grappler Erdenebat Bekhbayar 8-3 in men's 57kg category.
Earlier, Haryana Hammers won the toss and decided to block men's 74kg, while Delhi Sultans blocked women's 53kg.
There was also some off-the-mat drama during the match when a few spectators tried to cross the fence and enter the media enclosure. The Delhi Police had to intervene and take them out of the stadium.
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Marwa Amri felt that she could have defeated Sakshi and was all prepared to face the Indian wrestler.
"I think I could have defeated Sakshi and it would have been a very good competition. I was all prepared for it and was looking forward to the fight with Sakshi," said Marwa.
Marwa defeated Sakshi's replacement Apoorva Tyagi in just one minute and 19 seconds.
"In Sakshi's absence, it became very easy for me. There was hardly any competition," she insisted.
Rajneesh, who got the better of Delhi's key player Bajrang, said he was used to fighting close bouts.
"I have fought Bajrang thrice earlier and those have always been very close bouts. He had defeated me twice before, but today I managed to get the better of him. Today was my day and I could eke out the points," said Rajneesh.
Asked if he felt Bajrang was fighting with some injury, Rajneesh said: "Every wrestler fights with some minor injuries and it is a very normal thing. When you are on the mat you do not feel the minor pains here and there. In case the pain is major then one is not able to fight at all.
