(Eds: Repeating after making correction in para 2)New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Belarus' Vanesa Kaladzinskayaovercame Nigeria's Odunayo Folasade to guide UP Dangal totheir second successive victory in the Pro Wrestling Leaguehere at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium here today.
Vanesa began slowly, allowing Odunayo of Mumbai Maharathito steal the early initiative. She, however, came into her ownas the bout progressed and eventually won 7-5 in the 57 kgcompetition.
At one stage, she was on the brink of defeat but she heldon to her nerve to give her side an unassailable 4-2 lead inthe tie.
Asian Champion Abdurakhmonov Bekzod set up the victory,after the two were tied 2-2, scripting a crucial victory overIndia's Veer Dev in 74 kg event to put UP in the driving seatafter the fifth bout.
The Uzbek wrestler made a meal out of his opponent,injuring him smartly and completing the rout 12-0 with overthree minutes left in the bout.
In the inconsequential seventh bout, Rio Olympic goldmedalist Soslan Romonov beat Bajrang Punia to register hisside's third point but lost 3-4 on the night.
Earlier, the Maharathis won the toss and opted to blockheavyweight wrestler Jamaladdin Magomedov of Azerbaijan; theDangals promptly decided to keep Frenchwoman Cynthia Vesconout.
In the lung-opener, last tie's hero for UP Dangal, Nitin,continued his marvellous run to score the biggest upset of thetournament so far. He downed the World Championship bronzemedalist Yatsenko Andrey 4-3 in the 57 kg competition for histeam's first point.
Nitin nosed ahead in the opening period with a solitarypoint. The Azerbaijan wrestler, however, bounced back and wonfour points to turn the tide. Just as it all seemed over forhimself, Nitin cliched a three-pointer in the dying seconds toclinch a dramatic win.
UP's skipper Vinesh Phogat then made it two in two, witha dominating 10-0 in the 50kg women's event win againstcompatriot Seema.
The 2017 Commonwealth Wrestling Champion was completelyruthless on the mat, never allowing her opponent any chance.
She cruised home to help UP seize the early initiative.
The Maharathis, however, came back into the contest, with2014 Commonwealth Games' silver medalist Satyawart Kadiandefeating UP's Vicky 10-2 in the 92 kg contest.
The burly Satyawart, who had made a disappointing startto his campaign, bounced back in style. He dominated the six-minute bout to help his side stay in the bout .
Maharathis' icon player Sakshi Malik levelled the tie 2-2, toying with young Reshma Mane who came in last-minutereplacement for Geeta Phogat. Sakshi proved to be a handful,as she tamed Mane 16-0 in the 62 kg women's event. PTI ATKATK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.