2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Helen Maroulis (New York, N.Y./Sunkist Kids) dropped her first match during third season of the India Professional Wrestling League on Tuesday.

Maroulis was edged by two-time Commonwealth Championships gold medalist Pooja Dhanda of India, 7-6, in the 57 kg bout. According to the report on the India Professional Wrestling League website, Pooja Dhanda jumped to a 7-0 lead in the match, and held off a late surge by Maroulis in the second period.

The dual meet was captured by the NCR Punjab Royals, 4-3, giving them a 2-1 record for the season. Maroulis’ Haryana Hammers are now also 2-1 for the season.

Winning matches for the Haryana Hammers on Tuesday were Olympic and World champion Vladimer Khinchegashvili of Georgia at men’s 57 kg, World champion Khetik Tsabalov of Russia at men’s 74 kg and Roublejit Singh Rangi of India at men’s 92 kg.

Maroulis now has a 2-1 record in her matches in the India Professional League this year.

Maroulis will next wrestle on Saturday, January 20, when her team faces the Mumbai Maharathi.

In this six-team league, each team will face the other five teams in a dual meet during the regular season. There will be a playoffs semifinals round and a championship match. There is one dual meet held every night at the Siri Fort Complex in New Delhi, and shown on national television in India.

There are nine athletes on each PWL team, five men and four women. In each dual meet, two weight classes (one men’s and one women’s) will be blocked and not contested in that dual meet.

NCR Punjab Royals 4, Haryana Hammers 3
On Tuesday, January 16
57 kg men – Vladimir Khinchegashvili (Haryana Hammers) dec. Utkarsh Kale (NCR Punjab Royals), 11-4
76 kg women – Koumba Larroque (NCR Punjab Royals) dec. Pooja (Haryana Hammers), 6-2
125 kg men – Geno Petriashvili (NCR Punjab Royals) dec. Sumit (Haryana Hammers), 15-0
57 kg women – Pooja Dhanda (NCR Punjab Royals) dec. Helen Maroulis (Haryana Hammers), 7-6
74 kg men – Khetik Tsabolov (Haryana Hammers) dec. Jitender (NCR Punjab Royals), 11-0
63 kg women – Anastasija Grigorjeva (NCR Punjab Royals) dec. Sarita (Haryana Hammers), 6-0
92 kg men – Roublejit Singh Rangi (Haryana Hammers) dec. Nasir Hussain (NCR Punjab Royals), 11-0
Weights blocked – 50 kg women, 65 kg men
Records – Haryana Hammers 2-1, NCR Punjab Royals 2-1

Helen Maroulis schedule and results
Wednesday, January 10 – WIN over Marwa Amri of Tunisia (Veer Marathas), 9-1/pin
Friday, January 12 –WIN over Sangeeta Phogat of India (Delhi Sultans), 6-6/pin
Tuesday, January 16 – LOSS to Pooja Dhanda of India (NCR Punjab Royals), 7-6
Saturday, January 20 – vs. Mumbai Maharathi (Odunayo Adekuoroye/Nigeria)
Tuesday, January 23 – vs. UP Dangal (Vanesa Kaladzinskya/Belarus)
Note: Future opponents are projected based upon current rosters and could change

Click below for India Pro League official website
http://www.prowrestlingleague.com/