MUMBAI GARUDAS bolstered their credentials as title contenders by defeating Uttar Pradesh Warriors (UPW) 5-2 to claim their third consecutive victory in the inaugural edition of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) in Gurgaon on Thursday.
Mumbai have now jumped one rung to the top spot on the PWL table. They had defeated Punjab Royals 5-2 in the opening match of the tournament and beat strong contenders Bengaluru Yodhas 4-3 in their second contest.
This was UPW's second defeat in the three matches they have played so far. They were thrashed 1-6 by Bengaluru Yodhas in their first match before defeating Dilli Veers 4-3.
Purevjav Unurbat gave UPW a winning start by outclassing Mumbai's Pradeep by technical superiority (12-1) within two minutes in the men's 74 kg category.
Pradeep drew first blood, forcing Unurbat out of the playing zone to grab a point. But that only served to stir Unurbat into action.
The 2015 World Championships silver medalist from Mongolia displayed his superior technique to outwrestle his opponent quite comprehensively.
Mumbai's Sakshi Malik brought her team back to level terms by defeating UPW's Sarita Kumari 3-0 in the women's 58kg category.
Rahul Aware swatted aside the challenge from UPW's Jaideep Kumar with a technical superiority (11-0) win in the men's 57kg event to give Mumbai the lead.
Aware stamped his domination all over the contest by using the Fitlay move to open up a 9-0 lead just after the two-minute mark in the first round. He picked up another two points early in the second round.
Nigerian star Odunayo Adekuoroye bolstered Mumbai's lead by getting past Babita Kumari of UPW by technical superiority (10-0) in the women's 53kg event.
Mumbai claimed an unassailable 4-1 lead when Elizbar Odikadze defeated UPW's Satyavart Kadian by technical superiority (10-0) in the men's 97kg division. Both wrestlers were a bit defensive in the first round before Elizbar took the initiative to clinch a 1-0 lead.
The Georgian displayed superior strength and technique in the second round. He flipped Satyavart several times early in the second round with the Fitley move to open up a 7-0 lead and virtually kill the bout as a contest.
Three-time world champion Adeline Gray (women's 69kg) drove home Mumbai's superiority by thrashing Alina Stadinik Makhinia of UPW by technical superiority (10-0). Alina was no match for the American star as Adeline wrapped up the bout in the opening round.
Ganzorig Mandakhnran narrowed the margin of defeat for UPW by defeating former Asian champion Amit Dhankar 7-6 in a hard-fought clash in the men's 65kg division in the last bout of the day.
It was a rematch of the 2013 Asian Championships final. Amit had won that match quite comprehensively and the 2015 World Championship silver medalist took revenge for that defeat.
Both grapplers were equally matched in the early stages before Amit took a 1-0 lead at the break. Ganzorig managed to lift Amit to take five points midway through the second round. Amit reduced the lead towards the end, but the Mongolian star picked up two more points in the dying seconds.