End of the year women's wrestling rankings

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 - 10:19 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (November 9) -- With the ranking season coming to an end with the World Championships in Belgrade, wrestlers managed to shift their rankings based on points solely earned in 2022.

The performances at the senior world and continental championships, four ranking series events and select Games, wrestlers with the highest participating and medals were rewarded at the end of the year.

Here are the new rankings after the senior World Championships with points from 2022 tournaments only.

Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) finished at the top at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

50kg
1. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) - $5000
2. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) - $3000
3. Anna LUKASIAK (POL) - $2000

Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) takes the top spot at 50kg with her silver medal at the World Championships. In 2022, the Mongolian also has bronze medals at two ranking series events. The three medals earned her 52400 points.

She has 400 more than world bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) who is ranked second in the world for her medals at World Championships, Pan-Am Championships and the ranking series event in Tunis.

Hildebrandt got 13000 points for her Pan-Am gold, 8000 points for Zouhaier Sghaier and 31000 points for the bronze at Worlds. However, Dolgorjav earned 10200 and 5200 points for bronze medals at Yasar Dogu and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup respectively. Her biggest collection was from the Worlds as the silver medal was worth 37000 points, taking her ahead of Hildebrandt.

The third spot goes to Anna LUKASIAK (POL), the second bronze medalist from the World Championships. The 31000 points along with the 6500 points from European Championships, 7800 points from Yasar Dogu and 5200 points from Matteo Pellicone.

World champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) comes in at fourth with 45000 points, all collected for her gold in Belgrade. She only participated in one event in 2022.

Dominique PARRISH (USA) became the world champion at 53kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

53kg
1. Dominique PARRISH (USA) - $5000
2. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) - $3000
3. Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) - $2000

Dominique PARRISH (USA) not only became the world champion in her first apperance, she will end the season as the top ranked wrestler at 53kg, pocketing $5000 for her achievement.

Participating in four events that offered ranking points, Parrish began with the Yasar Dogu in Istanbul, winning bronze for 10200 points. She then added the Pan-Am title to her collection for another 13000 points. She did not win a medal at the Zouhaier Sghaier Cup but still got 4640 points. In September, her run to the gold at World Championships clinched the top rank for her with 45000 points.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) never came close to beating Parrish for the number one spot and finished second. She began the season with silver at the European Championships to earn 8000 points before winning the gold at the Mediterranean Games for another 8000 points. It was her bronze at the World Championships that earned her 31000 points, taking her tally to 47000 points.

Two silver medals in 2022 were enough for Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) to earn 45000 points and the third spot. She won her first silver at the Asian Championships for 8000 points before finishing with similar color at the World Championships for 37000 points.

Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) defeated Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) in the 55kg final at World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

55kg
1. Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) - $5000
2. Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) - $3000
3. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) - $2000

It could not have got any closer than this. Both Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) finished with 45000 points but it was the former's gold at the World Championships which helped her outrank Khomenets who won the silver in Belgrade.

All of Shidochi's points came from the World Championships while Khomenets earned 37000 points for her silver. The other 8000 points are for the silver medal she won at the European Championships.

At third comes Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) who fell short of the top rank by only 1000 points. Finishing with 44000 points, Winchester earned them in three different events in 2022. Her first was in Istanbul where she won gold for 11000 points before silver at the Pan-Am Championships for 8000 points.

She finished fifth at the World Championships with an injured knee but still managed 25000 points to reach the third spot in rankings.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) became the 57kg world champion to claim the top spot. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

57kg
1. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) - $5000
2. Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) - $3000
3. Anhelina LYSAK (POL) - $2000

World and Asian champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) clinched the top spot with her two gold medals of 2022. She received 10000 points for gold in Mongolia and then 45000 when she became the world champion at 57kg over Helen MAROULIS (USA).

Finishing second at 57kg is Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) with 49000 points. She won gold medals at the European Championships and Matteo Pellicone for a combined 18000 points. In September, she added a world bronze to her name for 31000 points and the second spot in the rankings.

Another world bronze medalist, Anhelina LYSAK (POL), finished third with 45000 points. Her bronze in Belgrade was the only medal of 2022 but she finished fifth in Istanbul and the European Championships which helped her with 14000 points. She got 9000 points for Yasar Dogu event and 5000 points for the Euros. 31000 points were added when she won the bronze at the Worlds.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) finished ranked one at 59kg after winning the gold at World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

59kg
1. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) - $5000
2. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) - $3000
3. Grace BULLEN (NOR) - $2000

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) may have been around for long but she won her first senior world title in Belgrade. Her three gold medals in 2022 cleared her path to be the top wrestler at 59kg with 64000 points. She got 45000 points for the gold medal in Belgrade adding to her 10000 points from European Championships and 11000 points from Yasar Dogu.

Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) jumped to second spot with 51600 points after bronze at the World Championships. She competed at four events for rankings points and won medals at all four of them. Beginning the season with bronze in Istanbul, she got 8200 points for that. Silver at the European Championships earned her 8000 points before another silver, at Matteo Pellicone, added 6400 points to her tally.

The wrestler who won the Matteo Pellicone gold was Grace BULLEN (NOR) who later reach the final at the World Championships which helped her finish third in the weight class. She got 37000 points for her silver in Belgrade and 8000 points for the gold in Rome.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is ranked number one at 62kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

62kg
1. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) - $5000
2. Kayla MIRACLE (USA) - $3000
3. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) - $2000

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) went unscathed in 2022 and earned the world’s top billing at 62kg. The 20-year-old Japanese star went 16-0, and collected gold medals at the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships. Although she won three world titles and five competitions during her ’22 campaign, her Asian and Belgrade titles were the only two competitions that counted towards her 55,000-point total.

World silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) closed out the season ranked second in the world at 62kg with 45,000 points. This season, the American only dropped two matches and won silver medals at the Pan-American and World Championships. She fell to top-ranked Ozaki in the world finals and Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) but avenged that Acapulco loss en route to the Belgrade world finals.

Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) strung together an impressive season, medaling at the World and European Championships and the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. She earned the third spot in the ranking with 43,900 points – 1,100 points shy of Miracle's No. 2 spot.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) claimed the top spot at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

65kg
1. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) - $5000
2. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) - $3000
3. Mallory VELTE (USA) - $2000

In one of the closest races to the top spot in the rankings, Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) outclassed Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) by 1,400 points to steal the top spot at 65kg.

Morikawa moved past Manolova with gold-medal wins at the Asian and World Championships. Although it didn’t count towards her 2022 ranking total, the 23-year-old also won a gold medal in Spain at the U23 World Championships.

Manolova finished in the top five of the four competitions she entered, winning silver medals at the European Championships and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and finished in fifth place at the World Championships and the Yasar Dogu. If the 26-year-old Azeri finished with a medal at either the World Championships or the Yasar Dogu, she would have closed out the year ranked first in the world.

Mallory VELTE (USA) finished the season as the third-ranked wrestler at 65kg. After opening the season in Istanbul with a silver medal, she closed out the season with a bronze medal in Belgrade at the World Championships.

Olympic and world champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) earned 49000 points. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

68kg
1. Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) - $5000
2. Irina RINGACI (MDA) - $3000
3. Ami ISHII (JPN) - $2000

The battle for the top billing at 68kg went through fellow world champions Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) and Irina RINGACI (MDA).

Mensah reached the summit of the world podium for the second time since 2019 and finished 1,600 points ahead of 2021 world champion Ringaci for the weight’s top ranking. Despite competiting in one less event, Mensah-Stock’s golds at the World Championships and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series events trumped Ringaci’s World bronze, European gold and Matteo Pellicone silver.

Mensah ended 2022 with 49000 points while Ringaci had 47400 points.

Ami ISHII (JPN) rounded out the top three in the rankings with 37,000 points after finishing with a silver medal at the World Championships.

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) earned the top spot at 72kg with 52000 points. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

72kg
1. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) - $5000
2. Amit ELOR (USA) - $3000
3. Buse TOSUN CAVUSOGLU (TUR) - $2000

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) had arguably the most complete season out of any women’s wrestler in the world. Her 2022 campaign featured a 13-match win streak and included gold medals at the Asian Championships, Yasar Dogu and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series events before settling for a silver medal at the World Championships. She closed out the season with 52,000, which was 9,000 points ahead of second-ranked Amit ELOR (USA).

Elor had a season that’ll be talked about for years to come. The 19-year-old budding superstar won a trio of world titles in a three-month span and leaped into the third spot in the rankings. She won gold medals at the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships.

Buse TOSUN CAVUSOGLU (TUR) medaled in three of the five events she entered this season and finished ranked third at 72kg. She started the season with a fifth-place finish at the Yasar Dogu before grabbing consecutive medals at the European Championships, XIX Mediterranean Games and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event before closing out the year with a world fifth-place finish.

Samar HAMZA (EGY) won a silver medal at the World Championships to finish at top at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

76kg
1. Samar HAMZA (EGY) - $5000
2. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) - $3000
3. Epp MAE (EST) - $2000

Samar HAMZA (EGY) made history in becoming the first women’s wrestler from Egypt to reach the world finals and rounded out the season ranked atop the world standings at 76kg.

Hamza wrestled six times in 2022 and earned medals in five events. After going 1-1 and finishing ninth at the Yasar Dogu, the 26-year-old Egyptian went on a five-competition medal run. She grabbed the African title for the fifth time in her career, silver medals at the World Championships and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series event, and bronze medals at the Mediterranean Games and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event.

In a year where she took the reigns as the Turkish Federation Vice President, Yasemin ADAR (TUR) still managed to end the season ranked second in the world at 76kg. She finished the season with a perfect 10-0 record through her gold-medal finishes at the World and European Championships and the Mediterranean Games.

Epp MAE (EST) picked up a bronze medal at the World Championships and a silver medal at the European Championships and finished the season in the third position.

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Preview

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - 14:16 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 9) -- The last time the Azerbaijan Greco-Roman team did not finish on the podium in the team rankings was back in 2019. Since then, it has remained in the top three for four consecutive editions of the World Championships, including two first-place finishes in 2023 and 2024.

The country will once again be one of the toughest to beat at the World Championships, bringing some of the strongest wrestlers to Zagreb to defend its team title.

Five world medalists, including three champions, and four former European medalists, including two champions, make up Azerbaijan's lineup, led by Olympic and world medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). World champions Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) at 55kg, Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 60kg, and Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg will be key to the team's success.

Supporting them are former European champion Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at 63kg, world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg, European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) at 82kg, European medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE) at 87kg, former European U23 champion Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) at 97kg, and former European medalist Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) at 130kg.

The biggest rival for Azerbaijan will be Iran which is also bringing a strong team to Zagreb. With Olympic champions Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg, Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) at 67kg, and Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) at 87kg, Iran also has world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) who is looking to defend his 130kg gold.

Other names include world U20 champions Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg, Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) at 60kg, world U23 champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg, and Zagreb Open champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) at 82kg.

Azerbaijan's Golden Trio

Azerbaijan's three world champions from 2024 -- Azizli, Mammadli, and Ganizade -- will face a stronger field than last year.

Azizli, a four-time world champion at 55kg, is the favorite. However, his loss to Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) in the European Championships final puts an asterisk on that tag.

Iran will send world U20 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) over Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) after the former won a selection bout. It will be interesting to see how the young wrestler adjusts to the senior level. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) and Taiga ONISHI (JPN) are also potential podium finishers at 55kg.

At 60kg, Mammadli aims for back-to-back world titles. After winning at 63kg last year, he has returned to his preferred 60kg, where he claimed European gold earlier this year. Mammadli is known for his dominant par terre wrestling, making it tough for opponents to turn him from that position.

Despite his advantage, Mammadli will face challenges in Zagreb. A European final rematch against Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) is likely, as Tibilov has troubled him in the past but never defeated him. Both could meet in the semifinals.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK) will also be in contention for a medal, a feat DPR Korea has not achieved in Greco-Roman since 2015.

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) is aiming for success at the senior level after winning gold at the 2024 U20 World Championships. He has the potential to challenge the top wrestlers. Former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) will also be looking to regain his momentum, while Asian silver medalist Kaito INABA (JPN) will make his World Championships debut.

Ganizade, the third world champion from Azerbaijan, faces a tough road at 72kg, with two other world champions and an Olympic silver medalist in the mix. Experienced wrestlers like Selcuk CAN (TUR) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) also add to the competition.

Ganizade narrowly defeated former world champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) 3-2 in last year’s final, and they are likely to meet again. Ghanem, who won gold at the European Championships, has been a consistent contender.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB), another world champion in this weight class, has been inconsistent. He earned a bronze last year after losing to Ghanem in the semifinals.

Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), a two-time Olympic silver medalist, still seeks his first world medal and will look to change that in Zagreb.

An incredible storyline is unfolding at 67kg as Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) attempts to win gold. Narikuni, who won gold at 70kg in Freestyle in 2023, now hopes to add a Greco-Roman world title to his list of achievements.

Three-Way Battle at 67kg

Esmaeili, the biggest gold-medal favorite, won gold at the Asian Championships. He has never wrestled at a senior Worlds but is a former world U20 champion. He won gold at the Asian Championships with a 3-0 win over Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). He will now look to win his first world medal.

Like Esmaeili, Jafarov has also never won gold at the World Championships. He missed his chance in 2023 after losing to Tokyo Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in the final. Jafarov went on to win bronze at the Paris Olympics and will be a favorite in Zagreb.

Orta has defeated both Esmaeili and Jafarov but lost to the Iranian in Paris. He will be looking to add a second world gold to his name despite winning bronze in Paris.

Saravi: From Challenger to Leader

For years, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) has been a challenger to Artur ALEKANYAN (ARM) in the 97kg weight class. But after defeating Aleksanyan at the Paris Olympics and seeing the Armenian lose at the European Championships, Saravi has emerged as the new leader in the 97kg class. Now, Aleksanyan, a four-time world champion, will try to reclaim his place at the top of the podium.

Both Saravi and Aleksanyan lost to Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) at the 2023 World Championships -- Saravi in the semifinals and Aleksanyan in the final. While Rosillo's surprise victory in 2023 shocked many, it's unlikely he'll repeat that, meaning Saravi vs Aleksanyan might be the final showdown in Zagreb.

The 97kg field also features Paris Olympic bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) [who moved up from 87kg this season], European silver medalist Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), and former world U23 champions Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and Alex SZOKE (HUN).

Kusaka's Return

Nao KUSAKA (JPN), Olympic champion, returns for the first time since winning gold at the Paris Games, aiming to claim his first world title after falling short in 2023 to Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). Kusaka is the favorite for gold but will face tough competition from Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), who is seeded fifth. Both Kusaka and Zhadrayev could meet in the quarterfinals.

World champion and Paris bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) will try to avenge his loss to Kusaka, while Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who has been having a career resurgence, aims to add a world medal.

Other potential challengers include Robert FRITSCH (HUN), Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW), and Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), all of whom are capable of causing upsets.

Mohmadi’s Chance at 87kg

Though missing Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), the 87kg weight class remains highly competitive. Paris silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI), a favorite, is known for his excellent conditioning and ability to score from par terre.

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), the Paris bronze medalist, will also be in the mix for gold, capable of defeating anyone on his best day with his high-paced style and big throws.

Other threats include European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Asan ZHANYSHOV (KAZ), and Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB).

At 130kg, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will aim to defend his 2023 world title after stunning Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the final. Mirzazadeh is the favorite but faces competition from former world silver medalist Oscar PINO (CUB), European champion Sergei SEMENOV (UWW), age-group world champion Hamza BAKIR (TUR), and Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW).

63kg: Abuladze vs Kamal

The battle for 63kg gold could come down to Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and Kerem KAMAL (TUR). Kamal, the most improved wrestler of the year, has won Ranking Series golds and European gold after moving up from 60kg to 63kg.

Abuladze, the 2023 world gold medalist, will return to 63kg, aiming to defend his title after struggling at 67kg. His defense is at par with the best, but scoring from par terre will be key to his success.

Challengers include Asian and world U20 champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI), Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), and Sergey EMELIN (UWW), a bronze medalist from Tokyo.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), the European champion, has gold medals from all age-group World Championships and will now aim for senior-level success. GURBANOV’s confidence will be high after winning the European Championships in dominating fashion at 82kg.

However, facing off against the Asian wrestlers, Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), will pose significant challenges.

Turkiye's 2024 European champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) will debut at the World Championships and is considered a strong medal contender.

End of the year women's wrestling rankings

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World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Preview