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In a gripping first semi-final of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 held at the Noida Indoor Stadium, Punjab Royals managed to stay ahead of the Haryana Thunders with a score of 3-2 at the halfway point on Friday.

Punjab initially took a 3-1 lead after the first four matches, successfully fending off Haryana's attempts to close the gap in the fifth bout, as both teams fought fiercely for a spot in the finals, according to a PWL press release.

The competition kicked off with Chirag Chhikara from Punjab dominating the 57kg men's bout, executing a decisive takedown against Rohit. Despite Haryana's wrestler managing only a single activity point in the second period, Chirag's early dominance secured him a 2-1 victory, giving Punjab the initial lead.

Haryana responded in the 74kg men's match, where Parvinder showcased resilience. After Chandermohan scored points through activity and push-outs in the first period, Parvinder made a strong comeback in the second. A crucial takedown followed by a late push-out during the Power Minute allowed him to win on last-point criteria after a tie at 8-8, leveling the score at 1-1.

Punjab regained the lead in the heavyweight category, with Captain Dinesh Dhankhar performing well in the 125kg bout. He maintained a tight contest early on with push-outs and activity points, eventually securing an 8-6 victory over Anirudh Gulia after a dramatic exchange of takedowns in the Power Minute.

The momentum shifted significantly in favor of Punjab during the 76kg women's bout, where Priya Malik delivered an outstanding performance. She defeated the previously unbeaten Kajal Dhochhak in just 99 seconds, forcing a fall with relentless takedowns and extending Punjab's lead.

Haryana managed to narrow the gap in the 86kg men's bout, where Ashirov Ashraf showcased his skills against Sandeep Mann. The match was characterized by physical exchanges and strategic play, with Ashirov scoring crucial points to win 5-1, bringing the overall score to 3-2.

After five bouts, the score stands as follows: Haryana Thunders 2 - 3 Punjab Royals.

The semi-final continues, with the 62kg women's match between Iryna Koliadenko (Haryana Thunders) and Ana Godinez (Punjab Royals) currently in progress.