Haryana, UP set up semis clash
Haryana Hammers’ Sun Yanan and Roublejit Rangi won the last two bouts against Uttar Pradesh Dangal to decide the last league encounter of the Pro Wrestling League in the capital on Tuesday. Haryana won 4- 3.
The victory handed Hammers’ second place in the points table and, a semi- final clash against the same opponents. Veer Marathas take on Punjab Royals in the other semi- final.
Down 2- 3 after five bouts, the Hammers needed to win the last two and Sun and Roublejit did so in style. Olympic bronze medallist Sun set the ball rolling by beating Vinesh Phogat 15- 7.
Vinesh led 3- 0 in the 50 kg clash. However, the Chinese bounced back with a gritty display and took the tie to the decider as she overcame the initial deficit with a sweeping 15- 7 win.
Dangal’s Vicky Chahar too began confidently and led Roublejit 2- 0 at the break. The Hammers’ grappler, however, recovered from it and used his experience to seal the clash 9- 4 and win the tie for his side.
Earlier, Haryana won the toss and chose to block the burly Jamaladdin Magomedov while the Dangals opted to keep Sarita Mor ( 62 kg) out of action.
In the day’s first clash, UP Dangal’s Nitin Rathi’s efforts to continue his giant- killing run fell through as he lost 2- 6 to 2016 Olympic gold medallist Vladimir Khinchegashvili in the men’s 57 kg. The women’s 57 kg category saw world champion Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of UP Dangal tower over Helen Maroulis’ replacement Pooja Gahlot in a one- sided affair.
Russia’s Khetik Tsabolov ( 74kg) then warded off UP Dangal’s Asian championship gold medallist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov to help Haryana take a 2- 1 lead.
Dangal restored parity through Hungary’s Zsanett Nemeth. She dominated Pooja Sihag and won 6- 1 in the 76 kg event.
In an all- Indian clash in the men’s 65 kg category, Dangal’s Bajrang Punia registered his second win of the tournament against Harphool Gulia, 3- 2.