Vinesh, Bajrang win it for Dangal

UP Dangal’s icon player Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia posted commanding wins to help pip Veer Marathas 4- 3 in the Pro Wrestling League at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium in the capital on Friday night.

After Vinesh put her team 3- 1 up, Bajrang, the Commonwealth champion, beat Amit Dhankar 72 in the 65kg category to help UP continue their unbeaten run in the tournament.

Marathas’ defeat all but doused their hopes of making it to the knock- out stages.

In the clash between sisters, the fourth bout of the day, Vinesh played with great determination to overcome a stiff challenge from Ritu 4- 0 in the 50kg women’s competition for her fourth successive victory in the tournament.

Earlier, Marathas won the toss and blocked Uzbekistan’s Bekzod Abdurakhmonov while Dangal opted to keep Marwa Amri out of the equation.

In the first bout, Dangal’s Nithin Rathi made a great comeback to register a 7- 4 victory over Shravan Kumar in the 57kg class.

Shravan started off well and took a 3- 0 lead in the opening period. The national championship runner- up, however, showed great determination to turn the tide and come out victorious.

In the next bout, 2017 Commonwealth champion Geeta Phogat made it 2- 0 for Dangal, beating national champion Ritu Malik 5- 0 in the 62kg women’s event. The win not only gave UP a huge initiative early in the duel but also saw Geeta record her first win in this edition.

Georgi Keteov of Armenia brought the Marathas back with a dominating 16- 0 win through technical superiority over Vicky Chahar in the 92kg competition.

The world championship bronze medallist grappled with great intent and did not allow his opponent any chance as he wrapped up the contest within three minutes.

Result: Veer Marathas lost to UP Dangal 3- 4 ( Shravan Tomar lost to Nitin Rathi 7- 4, Ritu Malik Dalal lost to Geeta Phogat 0- 5, Georgi Ketoev bt Vicky Chahar 16- 0, Ritu Phogat lost to Vinesh Phogat 0- 4. Amit Dhankar lost to Bajrang Punia 2- 7, Vasilisa Marzaliuk beat Zsanett Nemeth 3- 2, Levan Berianidze vs Jamaladdin Magomedov 4- 4, Vasilisa Marzaliuk beat Zsanett Nemeth 3- 2, Levan Berianidze vs Jamaladdin Magomedov 4- 4

Veer Marathas’ Ritu Phogat ( left) in action against Vinesh Phogat of UP Dangal in their Pro Wrestling League bout at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi on Friday. Dangal won 4- 3.