Pro Wrestling League: UP Warriors Taste First Win
UP Warriors, co-owned by Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma, rode on Satyavart Kadian's brilliant win over Delhi Veer's Gurpal Singh to register their first success story
Satyavart Kadian outplayed Gurpal Singh in the deciding bout as Uttar Pradesh Warriors (UPW) edged past Dilli Veer 4-3 to record their first win in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), here on Tuesday. (Rohit Sharma to Co-Own Pro Wrestling League Team Uttar Pradesh Warriors)
The scores were tied 3-3 and it all boiled down to the last bout of the day. It was second defeat in a row for Dilli Veer, who had lost 2-5 to Haryana Hammers in their first match.
Dilli Veer took lead when world championship bronze medallist Bekhbayar Erdenebat edged out Warriors' Jaideep 4-3 in the men's 57kg division.
Sarita though brought Warriors' back in the contest by beating Dilli Veers' experienced Turkish wrestler Yesilirmak Elif Jale 1-0 in the women's 58kg category.
Krishan Kumar wrested back the lead for Dilli by getting the better of Joginder in an exciting clash in the men's 125kg category.
Vinesh Phogat then consolidated Dilii's lead by hammering Kogut Oleksandra by technical superiority (11-0) in the women's 48kg.
World Championships silver medallist Purevjavyn Unurbat (men's 74kg) of UPW showed ample glimpses of his class as he blanked Dinesh Kumar 5-0 to reduce Dilli's lead.
A gritty Babita Kumari (women's 53kg) levelled the issue for the Warriors by defeating Liliya Horishna 13-12 in a thriller.
Then it boiled down to bout between Satyavart Kadian and Gurpal Singh in the men's 97kg division. Both wrestlers were a treat to watch but it was experience of Satyavart that counted in the end.