Mumbai edge out Delhi to enter PWL semi-finals

Mumbai Maharathi pulled off a superb comeback to beat Delhi Sultans 4-3 and enter the semi-finals of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium here on Friday.

Trailing 1-3 at one stage, Mumbai fought back to register their third win. They thus ended their campaign in the league stage with six points from five matches.

Delhi crashed out of contention, having lost all the four matches they have played so far. Mumbai have become the second team after Jaipur Ninjas to enter the semi-finals of this year’s PWL.

Delhi captain Sakshi Malik won the toss and decided to block the men’s 57kg category. Mumbai skipper Erica Wiebe, on the other hand, decided to put the women’s 53kg event out of the tie.

Georgian star David Tlashadze gifted Delhi a positive start with a 6-2 win over Mumbai’s promising youngster Pritam in the men’s 70kg division. The Georgian used his superior technique and experience to good effect to hold off a strong challenge from the Indian youngster. 

Pritam, who is new to the senior level, displayed good physical strength and caused problems for his much-fancied opponent on a few occasions, but he lacked the techical finesse to cause any real damage.

Tlashadze – a medallist at last year’s European Championships – established his domination in the first round by opening up a 5-0 lead. Pritam tried hard to stage a comeback in the second round with repeated attacks, but Tlashadze’s superior stood him in good stead.

Pritam was close to scoring a point in the fifth minute when he almost managed to pull off a pushout, but Tlashadze turned the situation around to score his sixth point. The 2016 Junior Asian Championship silver medallist finally opened his account in the final minute with a takedown but it was the most he would eventually manage.