PWL: Haryana Hammers sets up final clash with Punjab Royals

Haryana Hammers ensured victory with two bouts left in a 6-3 win over Delhi Sultans in the second semifinal. Hammers will face Punjab Royals in the final on Thursday.

Aleksander of Haryana Hammers dominated his bout against Delhi Sultans Satender Malik.

Experienced hand Rajneesh Dalal lived up to his potential to beat Ukrainian Olympian Andrey Kviatkovski in a men's 65kg bout in Haryana Hammers' impressive 6-3 win over Delhi Sultans in the semifinals of the Pro Wrestling League at the Gautam Buddha University indoor hall here on Wednesday.

Dalal's 9-3 victory helped Hammers pocket the tie with two bouts to spare. Hammers will take on Punjab Royals in the final on Thursday.

Ravi Kumar maintained his fine form to beat Pankaj 7-1 and gift Hammers a bright start.

Read: Punjab Royals beats UP Dangal to enter PWL finals

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kiran stole four points in the final 20 seconds to register a 6-1 victory over European under-23 champion Anastasia Shustova and make it 2-0.

Anastasia Nichita of Haryana Hammers in action against Katherina Zhydachiska of Delhi Sultans.

 

Former World champion Khetik Tsabalov narrowed the margin. The Russian exhibited his excellent leg attacks to notch up eight points in the second round and outclass Parveen Rana 9-0 in a men's 74kg bout.

Hammers won its next two bouts to stay ahead.

World and European junior champ Anastasia Nichita beat Katherina Zhydachivska 11-2 in a convincing fashion in women's 57kg, while Aleksander Khotsianivski trounced Satender Malik in men's 125kg in less than a minute.

Pinki kept Sultans in the race with her 3-1 fightback win over Seema.

However, Dalal gathered eight points, through spectacular takedowns and flips in the second round, against Kviatkovski to fetch Hammers' fifth win.

The result (semifinals):

Haryana Hammers bt Delhi Sultans 6-3 (M57kg: Ravi Kumar bt Pankaj 7-1; W76kg: Kiran bt Anastasia Shustova 6-1; M74kg: Parveen Rana lost to Khetik Tsabalov 0-9; W57kg: Anastasia Nichita bt Katherina Zhydachivska 11-2; M125kg: Aleksander Khotsianivski bt Satender Malik 16-0; W53kg: Seema lost to Pinki 1-3; M74kg: Rajneesh Dalal bt Andrey Kviatkovski 9-3; W62kg: Tatyana Omelchenko lost to Sakshi Malik 2-6; M86kg: Ali Shabanov bt Sanjeet Kundu 5-0).