NCR Punjab Royals dictated terms on day four of the Pro Wrestling League season 2 by ekeing out a close 4-3 win over Mumbai Maharathi at the K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium, here on Thursday.

Mumbai had an early advantage as they won the toss and decided to block the 53kg women’s category, thus preventing the dangerous Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye from contesting in the tie.

Punjab blocked the 74kg men’s category as Mumbai’s Jabrayil Hasanov has to sit out as well. The opening bout of the tie was won by NCR Punjab Royals as their captain Vladimir Khinchegashvili used all his experience to overcome a stiff challenge from Mumbai’s Rahul Aware and win 7-3.

Mumbai captain and Erica Wiebe drew level with Punjab in the next bout, staging a remarkable comeback to defeat Vasilisa Marzaliuk 4-2.

In a bout that saw both blood and sweat drip, Erica, who got injured in the game, countered Vasilisa’s aggression using single leg tackles and effecting crucial takedowns to win the 75kg women’s division.

A highly engrossing bout followed this as Indian grapplers Pankaj Rana from Punjab beat Pritam from Mumbai 9-8  in 70 kg men’s bout. The fourth bout was won by Punjab’s Nirmla Devi 3-0. She beat Mumbai’s Carolina Castillo Hidalgo in the 48kg women’s category.

Following this, Mumbai’s Vikas Kumar took on Punjab’s Togrul Asgarov in a crucial fifth bout. Asgarov proved too good for Vikas as Punjab nailed the bout 7-3 and gained an unsurpassable 4-1 lead in the tie.

Mumbai’s Sarita kept fighting to salvage her team’s pride, as she won the 58kg women’s category against Punjab’s Manju Kumari 2-1.

The final bout of the day was contested between Punjab’s Krishan Kumar and Mumbai’s Pavlo Oliynik in the heavyweight 97kg men’s category in which the Ukrainian prevailed 2-0.