Noida, Jan 14 (UNI): The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) makes its much-anticipated return on Thursday, January 15, 2026, with the fifth season of India’s premier franchise-based wrestling league set to get underway at the Noida Indoor Stadium in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Featuring six franchises, Olympic medalists, world champions and India’s most promising young wrestlers, PWL 2026 is poised to deliver a highly competitive and exciting season built on depth, balance, and international pedigree.
The opener will feature a marquee clash between the UP Dominators and Punjab Royals, setting the tone for a season that reflects the league’s renewed focus on professionalism, athlete-first structures, and competitive integrity.
A reimagined league built on balance and intent
Following a comprehensive auction process, PWL 2026 squads reflect a clear shift towards strategic roster construction. Franchises have invested not only in marquee names, but in wrestlers capable of delivering consistency across nine bouts per tie: five men and four women weight categories; within a round-robin league format.
With the top four teams advancing into the semi-finals, every bout is expected to carry decisive weight as the league progresses from January 15 with the Grand Finale slated for February 1, 2026.
PWL 2026 championship-winning franchise will take home Rs 1.5 crore, while the runners-up will receive Rs 75 lakh. Individual brilliance will also be recognized, with the Player of the Tournament earning Rs 2.5 lakh, while consistency on a nightly basis will be incentivized through a Rs 50,000 Daily Player of the Match award and a Rs 25,000 for Fighter of the Match honor.
A new exciting format
The bouts in the PWL 2026 have also been reimagined to make them more exciting and allow for a more pulsating climax to each of them, with the grapplers being incentivized to attack till the end.
All bouts will have two rounds of three minutes each according to Olympic norms. The first round will last for three minutes but in the second round, the wrestlers will be awarded double the points which they secure in the final minute to make the bout more exciting.
This makes chances of a turnaround even more real and the leading wrestler will not be able to remain passive and see out the bout.
UP Dominators
UP Dominators arrive as one of the most balanced squads of PWL 2026, anchored by two-time U20 World Champion and Asian Games bronze medalist Antim Panghal (53 kg), the highest-valued Indian female wrestler at the auctions. She is joined by Nisha Dahiya (62 kg) and international recruits Ojo Damola Hannah (76 kg) and Bridgette Marie Duty (57 kg).
The men’s lineup is led by Mikhailov Vasyl (86 kg) and Arman Andreasyan (74 kg), with added depth through Rahul Dalal and U17 and U23 Asian Championships silver medalist Jaspooran Singh (125 kg)- the 19-year-old got the highest bid among category C grapplers during PWL 2026 Auction.
UP Dominators’ head coach Vinod Kumar stated, “Our team has been built with balance and depth in mind. The opening match against Punjab is a tough test, but it also gives us an opportunity to showcase the strength of our squad early in the tournament. The players are ready, and the emphasis is on discipline, composure, and consistency.”
Antim Panghal echoed that sentiment, saying, “Playing the first match of the season comes with responsibility. Every bout matters in this league, and our aim is to give the team a strong start. The competition is intense, but that is what PWL is all about.”
Squad
Men: Mikhailov Vasyl (86 kg), Arman Andreasyan (74 kg), Rahul Dalal (57 kg), Vishal Kali Ramana (65 kg), Sagar (57 kg), Jaspooran Singh (125 kg)
Women: Antim Panghal (53 kg), Nisha Dahiya (62 kg), Ojo Damola Hannah (76 kg), Bridgette Marie Duty (57 kg)
Punjab Royals:
Punjab Royals bring stylistic diversity to PWL 2026, led by 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver medallist Ana Godinez (62 kg) along with Indian heavyweight Dinesh Gulia (125 kg). The lineup is further anchored by 2023 U20 World Champion Priya Malik (76 kg), along with Akash (125 kg) and Chandermohan (74 kg).
Chief Coach Hargobind Singh Sandhu stated, “The opening match is always important, not just for points but for setting the tone of the campaign. We have prepared well, and the squad has shown strong intent during training. UP Dominators are a quality side, but our focus is on executing our plans across all weight categories and starting the season on a positive note.”
Punjab Royals Dinesh Gulia added, “PWL is different from individual tournaments. Every bout contributes to the team result, and that collective mindset is what we’re focused on this season.”
Squad
Men: Islam Dudaev (65 kg), Dinesh Gulia (125 kg), Chirag Chhikara (57 kg), Bagomedov Ada (86 kg), Chandermohan (74 kg), Akash (125 kg)
Women: Ana Godinez (62 kg), Roksana Zasina (57 kg), Priya Malik (76 kg), Meenakshi (53 kg), Rajnita Jangra (57 kg), Rounak Gulia (62 kg)
Haryana Thunders:
Haryana Thunders enter PWL 2026 with the strongest international spotlight, headlined by Tokyo Olympic champion and five-time World Champion Yui Susaki (53 kg), the league’s most expensive signing at Rs 60 lakh. She is joined by 2024 Paris Olympic silver and 2020 Tokyo bronze medallist Iryna Koliadenko (62 kg), forming a formidable women’s lineup.
The men’s side, featuring Tulga Tumur-Ochir (65 kg) and Ashirov Ashraf (86 kg), provides stability and depth.
Chief Coach Virender Dahiya commented, “With quality comes expectation. The challenge is to stay focused on execution and let preparation reflect on the mat.”
Squad
Men: Tumur Tulga (65 kg), Ashirov Ashraf (86 kg), Ankush Chand Ram (57 kg), Anirudh Gulia (125 kg), Parvinder Singh (74 kg), Sachin (86 kg)
Women: Yui Susaki (53 kg), Iryna Koliadenko (62 kg), Kajal Dhochack (76 kg), Neha Sharma (57 kg), Neha Sangwan (57 kg)
Maharashtra Kesari:
Maharashtra Kesari have leaned into physical dominance and experience, led by Polish heavyweight Robert Baran (125 kg), the most expensive male wrestler at the auctions. Deepak Punia (86 kg) anchors the men’s middleweight division, bringing World Championship and Commonwealth Games pedigree. In the women’s categories, Bilyana Dudova and Manisha Bhanvala add reliability and consistency.
Head coach Anil Kumar Mann said, “League wrestling is about margins. Our aim is to stay competitive in every bout and build momentum as the season progresses.”
Squad
Men: Tevanyan Vazgen (65 kg), Robert Baran (125 kg), Deepak Punia (86 kg), Atish Thodkar (57 kg), Sumit Malik (57 kg), Yash (74 kg)
Women: Manisha Bhanvala (57 kg), Bilyana Dudova (62 kg), Yusnelyis Guzman (53 kg), Harshita Mor (76 kg), Diksha Malik (76 kg)
Tiigers of Mumbai Dangal:
Tiigers of Mumbai Dangal are spearheaded by Paris Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat (57 kg), India’s youngest individual Olympic medallist. Supported by heavyweight Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi (125 kg) and a young Indian core, Mumbai are expected to thrive on tempo and aggression.
Chief Coach Chandra Vijay Singh noted, “Our approach is simple—wrestle positively and apply pressure. Momentum plays a big role in this league.”
Squad
Men: Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi (125 kg), Aman Sehrawat (57 kg), Mukul Dahiya (86 kg), Rohit Rahal (65 kg), Naveen Malik (74 kg)
Women: Alina Filipovic (57 kg), Olha Padoshyk (62 kg), Kaloyan Ivanov (74 kg), Pooja (53 kg), Jyoti Berwal (76 kg)
Delhi Dangal Warriors
Delhi Dangal Warriors enter PWL 2026 with a well-rounded lineup combining elite Indian talent and proven overseas wrestlers. Leading the men’s division is reigning U23 World Champion Sujeet Kalkal (65 kg), the highest-bid Indian male wrestler at the auctions, who commanded almost three times of his base price, supported by experienced internationals in Turan Bayramov (74 kg) and Iranian showman Hadi Vafaeipour (86 kg).
The women’s unit features Anastasiya Alpayeva (76 kg) and Karla Acosta (57 kg), complemented by a solid domestic core in Saarika and Anjli.
Speaking ahead of the season, Delhi’s head coach Jagminder Singh said, “Adaptability will be key. Our squad has the ability to challenge opponents across styles and weight categories.”
Squad
Men: Turan Bayramov (74 kg), Hadi Vafaeipour (86 kg), Sujeet Kalkal (65 kg), Shubham Kaushik (57 kg), Ronak (125 kg)
Women: Anastasiya Alpayeva (76 kg), Karla Acosta (57 kg), Saarika (53 kg), Anjli (62 kg)
Season poised for a compelling start
With elite Indian wrestlers, Olympic medallists, and international champions competing across nine bouts per tie, PWL 2026 promises a tightly contested season from the opening match onward. As UP Dominators and Punjab Royals step onto the mat in Noida tomorrow, the league signals not just the start of a new season, but a renewed chapter in India’s professional wrestling landscape.
