BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 23) -- Wrestlers at the U17 World Championships will take a sigh of relief. China, the top team in Asia at this level, will not take part in the tournament in Baku. With China missing, Japan, India, the United States will be the front-runners for the team title, which was won by India last year the U.S. finishing second and Japan third.

Despite the absence of China, the wrestling in Baku will still be top notch. From individual milestones to team performances, the tournament will have it.

Fernandez Chases Third Gold

Among the top storylines will be that of Taina FERNANDEZ (USA), a two-time world champion at 61kg. She is now at 69kg chasing a third U17 world title, a history-making feat if she wins the gold medal, as she will become the first non-Japanese wrestler to do it.

Only four wrestlers have three U17 world titles, all four being Japanese women -- Masako FURUICHI (JPN) [2011, 2012, 2013], Kika KAGATA (JPN) [2012, 2013, 2014], Yui SUSAKI (JPN) [2014, 2015, 2016] and Honoka NAKAI (JPN) [2017, 2018, 2019].

Fernandez, who is yet to lose an international bout, will be at 69kg in a tough field as she jumps eight kilograms. First up for her will be U17 Asia silver medalist TANIYA (IND). Let the commentators not mispronounce Taina and Taniya.

The bracket also includes U17 European champion Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR), bronze medalists Nino SAMKHARADZE (GEO) and Polina EFIMOVA (RUS), and also Hibiki IIDA (JPN), never counting out a Japanese wrestler.

Battle of 73kg

The weight class was introduced in 2018 and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won it. However, that was the last time a Japanese wrestler won the heaviest weight category. Since then, India has won three golds, and China, the U.S. and Russia once each.

The battle for the 73kg gold medal will be an open one in Baku as China is missing and India is betting on U17 champion GARIMA (IND). She will need to step up from her performance at the continental level if she wants the world title that KAJAL (IND) missed in the final last year.

It also has U17 European champion Solomiia PETRIV (UKR), a returning bronze medalist from 69kg. She will be the favorite to win the gold medal with potential rematches from U17 European Championships as silver medalist Bianka BARANY (HUN) and bronze medalists Karina MUZALEVSKAIA (RUS) and Lyra LEDERER (GER) are also entered.

U17 Asian silver medalist Namuuntsetseg BATBOLD (MGL) brings the typical Mongolian game of throws while Kaili MANUEL (USA) will be the dark horse.

Stars Clash at 57kg

The toughest weight class appears to be 57kg which has a few big names who have moved weight classes. Two returning silver medalists, Janka SILLEI (HUN) at 46kg and Epenesa ELISON (USA) from 53kg, are on the same half of the bracket at 57kg.

With Elison moving up only one weight class, she can go all the way but her first bout is against Rion SUZUKI (JPN). Sillei, who won the U17 European at 57kg, blanked everyone at the continental event.

Others at the weight include U17 European silver medalist Mariia POLTORAK (UKR), bronze medalist Marharyta DANILEVICH (BLR) and U17 Pan-Am silver Gurleen DHILLON (CAN).

While they don't have international medals yet, Suzuki, Nikita SEHRAWAT (IND) and Sofiia BELOVA (RUS) should not be counted out of the race.

Team Title Race

The U.S. will be hoping to win it all as a team and it has the wrestlers to do it. Fernandez leads the team that also has two returning medalists and three U17 Pan-Am champs. Elison will hope to change the colour of her medal while returning bronze medalist Madison HEALEY (USA) will be at 46kg.

The U17 Pan-American champions include Sophia VALDEZ (USA) at 40kg, Landri VON GONTEN (USA) at 61kg, and Eve SKROCKI (USA) at 69kg.

Last year, the U.S. fell short by four points to India which captured its first-ever U17 team title in Women's Wrestling. However, this year the team doesn't have the same aura as the one last year, opening the team race.

Despite the absence of some big names in the Japan team, it will be a strong squad. Japan is hosting an inter-high school tournament and many wrestlers have a compulsion to participate in the tournament. So it becomes a little difficult for Japan to go and win it all.

With Russia and Belarus getting team points and Ukraine having a strong squad, the team title race will not be as straight forward as it was last year.