UP Dangal registered their second consecutive victory as they pipped Mumbai Maharathi 4-3 in the Pro Wrestling League at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.
Belarus' Vanesa Kaladzinskaya defeated Nigeria's Odunayo Folasade 7-5 in women's 57 kg category to give UP team an unbeatable lead. In fact, it was Odunayo of Mumbai who had taken the early initiative. But Vanesa soon came into her own to keep Mumbai ahead.
Asian Champion Abdurakhmonov Bekzod set up a crucial victory for UP after the two teams were locked at 2-2. Bekzod defeated Veer Dev 12-0 in men's 74 kg in the fifth bout to put UP in the driving seat. The Uzbek wrestler completed the rout when there were over three minutes left in the bout.
In the inconsequential seventh bout, Rio Olympic gold medalist Soslan Romonov beat Bajrang Punia in the men's 65kg to register Mumbai's third point.
Earlier, Mumbai won the toss and opted to block heavyweight wrestler Jamaladdin Magomedov of Azerbaijan; the Dangals promptly decided to keep Frenchwoman Cynthia Vescon out.
In the lung-opener, last tie's hero for UP, Nitin, continued his marvellous run to score the biggest upset of the tournament. He downed the World Championship bronze medalist Yatsenko Andrey 4-3 in the men's 57 kg competition to log the first point for his team.
UP's skipper Vinesh Phogat then made it two wins in a row with a dominating 10-0 victory in the 50kg women's event against compatriot Seema. The 2017 Commonwealth Wrestling Champion was completely ruthless on the mat and never allowed Seema a chance to fight back.
Mumbai, however, came back into the contest, when 2014 Commonwealth Games' silver medalist Satyawart Kadian defeated UP's Vicky 10-2 in the men's 92 kg contest. Satyawart completely dominated the six-minute bout to help his side stay in the hunt.
Mumbai's icon player Sakshi Malik then levelled the tie 2-2 as she toyed with young Reshma Mane who came in last-minute replacement for Geeta Phogat. Sakshi tamed Mane 16-0 in the 62 kg women's category. However, UP fought back immediately to seal the contest.
