Punjab Royals held their nerve in a tense finish as Ana Godinez produced a clutch performance to secure a narrow 5-4 victory over Maharashtra Kesari in Match 12 of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Monday. The win earned Punjab two crucial match points and propelled them into third place on the standings.
Punjab appeared in firm control early in the contest, racing to a commanding 4-1 lead through the opening half. Maharashtra Kesari, however, refused to back down, staging a spirited comeback in the latter bouts to push the tie into a decisive final contest. It was then that Godinez rose to the occasion in the 62kg women’s bout, delivering a composed and dominant display to seal the match in Punjab’s favour.
The evening began with Punjab Royals setting the tempo in the 53kg women’s category, where Meenakshi showcased discipline and tactical clarity against Paris Olympic silver medallist Guzman Lopez Yusneylis. Using early takedowns and exploiting passivity, Meenakshi closed out a convincing 6-0 victory to hand Punjab the opening point.
Punjab quickly restored their cushion in the 76kg women’s bout, where former U20 and U23 world champion Priya Malik delivered one of the standout performances of the night. Priya struck decisively with high-value attacks and forced a fall in the opening period to extend Punjab’s lead to 3-1. Her effort earned her the Player of the Match award.
The comeback continued in the 57kg women’s category, where Manisha Bhanvala edged past Rajnita Jangra 2-1 in a closely fought contest, narrowing the gap and setting up a dramatic finish.
With the tie hanging in the balance, Ana Godinez delivered under pressure in the decisive 62kg women’s bout. Dominating mat control and transitions, Godinez scored consistently through takedowns, exposures and a push-out to defeat Dudova Bilyana Zhivkova, sealing Punjab Royals’ fifth bout win and the overall tie.
Following the match, Maharashtra Kesari concluded their league campaign with three wins from four matches, finishing on six points with 23 bout victories. Punjab Royals, meanwhile, climbed to third place with six points from four matches and 18 bout wins.
