PWL 2026 Final: Haryana Thunders edge Delhi Dangal Warriors 5-4 to lift title

In a nail-biting finale to the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026, Haryana Thunders were crowned champions after edging past Delhi Dangal Warriors in a dramatic title clash at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday. The blockbuster final went right down to the last bout, with Haryana sealing the trophy 5–4 in what turned out to be one of the most intense championship nights in league history.

With the score locked at 4–4 after eight bouts, the title was decided in the final women’s 62kg contest, where Paris Olympic silver medallist Iryna Koliadenko rose to the occasion with a dominant performance under pressure. Wrestling with composure and authority, Koliadenko registered a commanding 16–0 technical victory, clinching the decisive point and sparking celebrations in the Haryana camp.

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~ PWL Facebook handle pic.twitter.com/Q9YvgJkwfu

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) February 1, 2026

For their title triumph, Haryana Thunders will pocket Rs 1.5 crore along with the PWL 2026 trophy, while runners-up Delhi Dangal Warriors will take home Rs 75 lakh. In the individual honours, Delhi’s star wrestler Turan Bayramov was named Player of the Tournament, earning Rs 2.5 lakh, after winning all seven bouts in the men’s 57kg category and scoring 59 points. Chandermohan (Punjab Royals) finished as the tournament’s top point scorer.

The awards on the night also recognised key match-winners: Neha Sangwan (Haryana Thunders) was adjudged Player of the Match for keeping the final alive till the very end, while Ronak (Delhi Dangal Warriors) earned Fighter of the Match honours for his standout effort in the men’s 125kg bout. Haryana’s Akshay Dhere was named Impact Player of the Match for his strong showing in the men’s 57kg division.

The championship night began with Delhi striking first, as the unbeaten Bayramov dominated the men’s 74kg bout with an emphatic 8–1 win to hand his team an early lead. Haryana responded immediately in the women’s 76kg bout, where U20 World Champion Kajal Dhochack edged past European champion Anastasiya Alpyeeva 3–1, restoring parity.

Delhi regained momentum in the men’s 65kg contest as skipper Sujeet Kalkal produced a late surge to defeat World Championships silver medallist Tumur Ochir Tulga 8–6. But Haryana once again hit back through multiple-time world champion Yui Susaki, who cruised to a technical win over Saarika to make it 2–2.

The pendulum swung again when Asian Championship bronze medallist Vafaeipour Hadi Bakhtiar powered Delhi ahead with a one-sided 11–0 victory over Ashirov Ashraf in the men’s 86kg bout. Haryana, however, refused to let the contest slip away, with Akshay Dhere producing a dominant technical superiority win over Amit Kumar in the men’s 57kg category.

Akshay Dhere dominates Amit Kumar 16–0 by technical superiority in the 57 kg bout, earning eight takedown and eight exposure points as Haryana Thunders strengthen their position in the PWL 2026 final.#AkshayDhere #AmitKumar #HaryanaThunders #DelhiDangalWarriors #PWL2026… pic.twitter.com/TLrBUIkA5O

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) February 1, 2026

In the heavyweight men’s 125kg match, Ronak delivered for Delhi with a strong 12–2 win over Anirudh Gulia, pushing Delhi to a 4–3 lead and placing them one bout away from the title. Haryana kept their championship hopes alive when Neha Sangwan pinned Anjali in the women’s 57kg bout, tying the final at 4–4 and setting up a winner-takes-all decider.

Ronak powers past Anirudh Gulia 12–2 in the 125 kg bout, delivering a dominant heavyweight performance as Delhi Dangal Warriors strike back in the final and keep the PWL 2026 title fight alive. pic.twitter.com/xHtmcVD6IX

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) February 1, 2026

With everything on the line, Koliadenko delivered the moment of the season. Using relentless turn-and-exposure moves, she dismantled Anjli for a 16–0 technical win, sealing the championship for Haryana Thunders and bringing the curtains down on a memorable PWL 2026 season filled with tight contests, standout performances and a final worthy of the hype.