Pro Wrestling League: Jyoti Sihag Delivers Late Takedown to Defeat Yusneylys Guzman

Straight from Haryana's wrestling heartland of Sisai, Jyoti Sihag delivered one of the standout moments of Pro Wrestling League with a late surge to defeat Paris Olympic 2024 silver medallist Yuseneylys

Guzman Lopez of Cuba in the 53kg bout at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

Representing the Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals, Jyoti sealed a 9-5 victory in dramatic fashion. With the score locked at 5-5, and just 20 seconds left on the clock, the bout headed into the decisive Power Minute.

It was there that the 2024 World Military Wrestling Championships gold medalist found her opening, executing a crucial takedown to swing the contest in her favour and close out the match under intense pressure.

Reflecting on the bout, Jyoti admitted the magnitude of the challenge was never lost on her. "My opponent is an Olympic medallist, and I genuinely enjoyed wrestling against her," she said. "At one point, I was ahead, then the score became 5-5 with only 20 seconds left.

"I kept telling myself I still had those 20 seconds, and that I had to give everything I possibly could. I tried, and it worked. "

Jyoti Sihag brushes off first loss

For Jyoti, the victory carried added weight as it came in her first season of the Pro Wrestling League. After losing her first match in a 15-0 defeat to Antim Panghal of UP Dominators, the victory was a required confidence boost.

"This is my first season, and I want to thank my Mumbai team and Aksha (Kamboj) ma'am," she said. "On the first day, there was pressure on me - how I would face such a big audience - and now against an Olympian in the final bout. I knew I had to wrestle better. "

She also pointed to quick learning as a key factor behind the turnaround. "I learned something from my match yesterday. Today I tried to apply that learning, and I'm happy I was successful. "

Under the lights and noise of a packed indoor arena, Jyoti's performance reflected the fearless identity the Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals are beginning to carve out in their debut campaign. Rather than rushing in the closing moments, she stayed composed, trusted her corner and chose execution over emotion.

Against elite opposition, and with the bout hanging in the balance, Jyoti Sihad showed why Mumbai placed their faith in her, not just as a promising wrestler, but as one capable of delivering when the moment demands it most.