JOIN USMumbai emerge inaugural champs
Putting up a sparkling show in the final showdown, Mumbai Garuda outclassed Haryana Hammers 7-2 to clinch the inaugural Pro Wrestling League title here on Sunday.
High on confidence after winning all their previous matches in the tournament, Mumbai started as the favourites in the grand finale and successfully lived up the expectations with a comfortable win.
In the final, none of the categories were blocked as all nine bouts were fought and Mumbai ended up unbeaten in the event.
Down 1-2, Mumbai won their next four bouts on the trot to claim the trophy after the seventh match itself, making the last two ties inconsequential.
Mumbai won the back-to-back bouts through captain Adeline Gray, Giorgi Sakandelidze, Odunayo Adekuoroye and Odikadze Elizbar. Last two inconsequential bouts were also clinched by them.
To begin with Garuda’s Amit Dhankar had an easy outing against Haryana’s Vishal Rana, who was the replacement for injured Yogeshwar Dutt, bagging the first bout 12-0 by technical superiority and giving favourites Garuda an early lead in Men’s 65kg.
Leading 8-0 at the break with a dominating show, Amit finished off the bout in the beginning of the second round. He took just three minutes and eight seconds to topple his compatriot.
But World championship gold medallist Oksana Herhel of Haryana tied the scores by posting a 4-4 by Fall win against Sakshi Malik of Garuda in Women’s 58kg.
To begin with, Sakshi surprised the costliest buy of PWL by gaining the first four points but Haryana captain came back strongly, displaying her technique and skills to throw down the Indian girl on her back, achieving four points on the trot and winning the tie in the first round.
Up against Livan Lopez Azcuy of Hammers, Garuda’s Pardeep, who failed to open his account in this tournament as he lost all seven of his bouts, once again went down 6-11 in Men’s 74kg.
The Mumbai unit’s marquee player Adeline Gray then predictably scored the equaliser for her team by beating Geetika Jakhar of Haryana Hammers in Women’s +69kg.
Gray was leading 6-0 at the break and then won it 10-0 by technical superiority.
Giorgi Sakandelidze of Mumbai lived up to the reputation of finishing off his bouts early and he did the same in the title clash as well, overpowering Haryana’s Hitender in just one minute and 39 seconds to register a 10-0 win by technical superiority in Men’as 125kg.
Next was a fight between the two World Championship bronze medallists — Tatyana Kit of Haryana and Mumbai’s Odunayo Adekuoroye – in which the latter emerged victorious 9-0 in a one-sided contest in Women’s 53kg.
Odikadze Elizbar sealed the title for Garuda with his stunning 6-4 win over Andriitesey Valerii in Men’s 97kg category.