Pro Wrestling League 2026: Punjab Royals boost playoff hopes with win over Maharashtra Kesari
(Courtesy : Pro Wrestling League)
Priya Malik was named Player of the Match, while Atish Thodkar received the Fighter of the Match honour.
Ana Godinez delivered a composed and authoritative performance in the decisive 62kg women’s contest to guide Punjab Royals to a crucial 5–4 victory over Maharashtra Kesari in Match 12 of the Pro Wrestling League 2026 at the Noida Indoor Stadium.
After Punjab surged to a 4–1 lead through a dominant opening half, Maharashtra mounted a strong fightback in Bouts 6 and 7 to keep the contest alive. However, Godinez stepped up when it mattered most, sealing Punjab’s fifth win and the full two match points.
With this result, Maharashtra Kesari end their league campaign with three wins from four matches, finishing with six points and 23 bout wins, while Punjab Royals climb to third place with six points from four matches and 18 bout wins. Priya Malik was named Player of the Match, while Atish Thodkar earned Fighter of the Match honours.
Punjab Royals set the tone in the opening 53kg women’s contest through Meenakshi, who produced a disciplined and controlled display against Paris Olympic silver medallist Guzman Lopez Yusneylis.
Scoring early takedowns and capitalising on passivity, Meenakshi reminded her opponent of space and tempo, closing out a clean 6–0 victory to give Punjab the early lead.
The advantage was doubled in emphatic fashion in the 74kg men’s contest, where Asian Wrestling Champion Chandermohan overwhelmed Yash with relentless attacks.
Drawing passivity in the first period, Chandermohan exploded with repeated takedowns and turns across both periods to register an 18–0 technical superiority win.
Maharashtra Kesari responded in the heavyweight tie through captain Robert Baran, who relied on experience and mat awareness to defeat Punjab skipper Dinesh Dhankhar 10–1. Baran confirmed his control with a late takedown, keeping Kesari in the tie.
Also Read: Pro Wrestling League 2026: Full schedule, fixtures, results, squads, live streaming details
However, Punjab quickly restored momentum in the 76kg women’s tie, where former U20 and U23 world champion Priya Malik delivered one of the most dominant performances of the night. Priya struck early with a high-value takedown and multiple turns, forcing a fall inside the first period to push Punjab ahead 3–1.
The most competitive contest of the opening half unfolded in the 86kg men’s bout. Amit and Sandeep Maan were locked in a tense tactical battle, trading passivity points and takedowns.
Confirming his composure under pressure, Sandeep edged ahead in the closing phase with a timely takedown and push-out to secure a narrow 8–7 win and stretch Punjab’s lead to 4–1.
Maharashtra launched their comeback in the 57kg men’s category through Atish Thodkar. In a high-intensity contest, Thodkar controlled key phases with takedowns and turns, managing the closing exchanges smartly to edge Chirag Chhikara 13–10 and reduce the deficit.
The pressure continued in the 57kg women’s contest, where Manisha Bhanvala claimed a tightly fought 2–1 victory over Rajnita Jangra, keeping Maharashtra’s hopes alive heading into the final stretch.
With the tie delicately poised, Ana Godinez delivered the defining moment in the 62kg women’s tie. Godinez dominated proceedings from the outset, controlling centre mat and transitions while scoring through takedowns, exposures, and a push-out across both periods.
Her decisive win over Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova sealed Punjab Royals’ fifth victory and confirmed the match in their favour.
Maharashtra closed the night on a high through Tevanyan Vazgen in the 65kg men’s category. Vazgen produced a commanding shutout against Anuj Kumar, scoring repeatedly through powerful throws and clean takedowns to register a 12–0 victory. The result, however, was not enough to overturn Punjab’s advantage.
Tomorrow on Matchday 11 of PWL 2026, Delhi Dangal Warriors will take on Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals, with LIVE telecast starting at 8:00 PM on Sony Sports Ten 4 and Ten 5, and streaming available on Sony LIV.
PWL 2026 Match 12 Results
| Bout | Category | Winner (Team) | Loser (Team) | Score / Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 53kg (Women) | Meenakshi (Punjab Royals) | Guzman Lopez Yusneylis (Maharashtra Kesari) | 6–0 |
| 2 | 74kg (Men) | Chandermohan (Punjab Royals) | Yash (Maharashtra Kesari) | Tech. Superiority (18–0) |
| 3 | 125kg (Men) | Robert Baran (Maharashtra Kesari) | Dinesh Dhankhar (Punjab Royals) | 10–1 |
| 4 | 76kg (Women) | Priya Malik (Punjab Royals) | Diksha Malik (Maharashtra Kesari) | Fall (10–0) |
| 5 | 86kg (Men) | Sandeep Maan (Punjab Royals) | Amit (Maharashtra Kesari) | 8–7 |
| 6 | 57kg (Men) | Atish Thodkar (Maharashtra Kesari) | Chirag Chhikara (Punjab Royals) | 13–10 |
| 7 | 57kg (Women) | Manisha Bhanvala (Maharashtra Kesari) | Rajnita Jangra (Punjab Royals) | 2–1 |
| 8 | 62kg (Women) | Ana Godinez (Punjab Royals) | Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova (Maharashtra Kesari) | 11–2 |
| 9 | 65kg (Men) | Tevanyan Vazgen (Maharashtra Kesari) | Anuj Kumar (Punjab Royals) | 12–0 |
Final Team Score
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra Kesari | 4 |
| Punjab Royals | 5 |
PWL 2026 Points Table
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Bouts Won | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haryana Thunders | 4 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 6 |
| 2 | Maharashtra Kesari | 5 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 6 |
| 3 | Punjab Royals | 4 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 6 |
| 4 | UP Dominators | 4 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 4 |
| 5 | Delhi Dangal Warriors | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 2 |
| 6 | Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals | 4 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
Who was the key performer in Punjab Royals’ win over Maharashtra Kesari?
Ana Godinez was the standout performer, winning the decisive 62kg bout to seal Punjab Royals’ 5–4 victory.
What was the final score of Match 12 in PWL 2026?
Punjab Royals defeated Maharashtra Kesari by 5–4 in Match 12.
Who won the Player of the Match and Fighter of the Match awards?
Priya Malik was named Player of the Match, while Atish Thodkar received the Fighter of the Match honour.
How did Punjab Royals build their early advantage?
Punjab took a 4–1 lead through wins by Meenakshi, Chandermohan, Priya Malik, and Sandeep Maan in the opening half.
Which bout decided the outcome of the tie?
The 62kg women’s bout, where Ana Godinez defeated Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova, proved decisive.
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Alex graduated in mass communication in 2016 and has been covering global sports for Khel Now since then. He is covering sports tech, igaming, sports betting and casino domain from 2017.