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Women's Wrestling seeds announced for 2022 World Championships

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 - 14:09 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 23) – With only 17 days left until the 2022 World Championships (September 10-18), United World Wrestling has released the tentative top eight women's wrestling seeds.

The point-based seeds were determined by a wrestler's participation and placement at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, 2021 World Championships, 2022 Continental Championships, 2022 Ranking Series events, and selected Regional Games.

Although it's highly unlikely that the brackets play out exactly how their seeded, but if the seeds were to hold through the finals in the top-eight seeded system, here's how the bracket will look leading up to the gold-medal match:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 vs. No. 8 (top side)
No. 4 vs. No. 5 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 7 (bottom side)
No. 3 vs. No. 6 (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 vs. No. 4 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 3 (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 vs. No. 2 

*National Federations were required to submit their world entries by last week but can still update them until 24 hours before the draws. This means these seeds and entries are subject to change.

50kg seeds:
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)
No. 2  Yui SUSAKI (JPN)
No. 3 Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU)
No. 5 Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
No. 6 Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
No. 7 Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
No. 8 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)

If seeds hold at 50kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. No. 8 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) (top side)
No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) vs. No. 5 Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) (top side)
No. 2  Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. No. 7 Mariya STADNIK (AZE) (bottom side)
No. 3 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) vs. No. 6 Madison PARKS (CAN) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) (top side)
No. 2  Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. No. 3 Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. No. 2 Yui SUSAKI (JPN)

Hildebrandt holds top seed at 50kg
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) holds the top spot in the stacked 50kg bracket featuring four seeded wrestlers with world finals experience -- two of which are on the opposite side from the American.

Hildebrandt finished on the podium at the Olympic Games and World Championships before winning golds at the Pan-American Championships and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event en route to grabbing the No. 1 spot. Fortunately, she's on opposite sides of the bracket from reigning Olympic champion No. 2 Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and four-time Olympic medalist No. 7 Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Hildebrandt will share the top side of the bracket with No. 8 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) and No. 5 Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL). The two-time world finalist will take on reigning European champion Demirhan in the quarterfinals, then will wrestle either two-time world silver medalist Vuc or Dolgorjav.

On the lower side, Susaki and Stadnik will meet in the quarterfinals in a rematch from the 2018 world finals and 2020 Tokyo Olympic semifinals. In those Budapest and Tokyo bouts, Susaki outscored Stadnik 21-0.

If Susaki picks up a third straight win over Stadnik, she'll meet the winner of No. 3 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) and No. 6 Madison PARKS (CAN).

53kg seeds:
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
No. 3 Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN)
No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
No. 5 Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE)
No. 6 Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
No. 7 Dominique Olivia PARRISH (USA)
No. 8 Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

If seeds hold at 53kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. No. 8 Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) (top side)
No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) vs. No. 5 Emma MALMGREN (SWE) (top side)
No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA) vs. No. 7 Dominique PARRISH (USA) (bottom side)
No. 3 Samantha STEWART (CAN) vs. No. 6 Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) (top side)
No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)vs. No. 3 Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)

Top-seeded Funjinami is riding a 103-match win streak in Belgrade 
Japan's 18-year-old phenom Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) headlines the seeds at 53kg. The reigning world champion heads into Belgrade riding a 103-match win streak and is looking to claim a second straight senior world title.

Fujinami will contend with veteran and two-time Olympian No. 8 Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in the quarterfinals. Then, barring a meltdown, she'll meet either No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) or reigning European champion No. 5 Emma MALMGREN (SWE) for a spot in the finals.

On the bottom half of the 53kg chart, No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA) earned the second seed after her runner-up finish at last year's World Championships and back-to-back bronze-medal finishes at the Yasar Dogu and European Championships.

Leorda will have a tough quarterfinals match, as she's expected to take on reigning Pan-American champion No. 7 Dominique PARRISH (USA). If she can get past the American, she'll take a world bronze medalist in No. 3 Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) or No. 6 Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) in the semis.

Stewart is a reigning senior-level world bronze medalist, while Yetgil is a two-time U23 world bronze medal winner.

55kg seeds
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER)
No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) 
No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
No. 4 Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)
No. 5 Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL)
No. 6 Karla Lorena GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
No. 7 Sushma SHOKEEN (IND)
No. 8 Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)

If seeds hold at 55kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER) vs. No. 8 Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) (top side)
No. 4 Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) vs. No. 5 Roksana ZASINA (POL) (top side)
No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) vs. No. 7 Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) (bottom side)
No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) vs. No. 6 Karla GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER) vs. No. 4 Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA) (top side)
No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) vs. No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER) vs. No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)

Hemmer holds No. 1 seed at 55kg
Oslo world runner-up Nina HEMMER (GER) heads into the World Championships as the No. 1 seed at 55kg. In addition to her silver-medal finish at the World Championships, Hemmer also won the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event and finished in fourth place at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event.

Hemmer's quarterfinals opponent will be Bolat Turlykhanov Ranking Series champion No. 8 Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ). However, her semifinal road will be significantly more challenging as she expected to meet '19 world champion No. 4 Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) or No. 5 Roksana ZASINA (POL).

On the lower side of the chart, Ukraine's next big thing Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR), earned the second seed after her world bronze medal and European silver medal finish.

Khomenets' quarterfinal opponenet will be No. 7 Sushma SHOKEEN (IND). If the 19-year-old Ukrainian star wins that, she'll wrestle her European finals opponent No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) or Pan-American gold medalist No. 6 Karla GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN).

57kg seeds: 
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA)
No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
No. 4 Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX)
No. 5 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
No. 6 Mansi MANSI (IND)
No. 7 Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR)
No. 8 Anhelina LYSAK (POL)

If seeds hold at 57kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA) vs. No. 8 Anhelina LYSAK (POL) (top side)
No. 4 Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) vs. No. 5 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) (top side)
No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. No. 7 Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) (bottom side)
No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) vs. No. 6 Mansi MANSI (IND) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA) vs. No. 4 Giullia RODRIGUES (BRA) (top side)
No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA) vs. No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)

Maroulis maintains top seed at 57kg
Helen MAROULIS (USA) nabbed the top seed at 57kg after winning world gold in Oslo and Olympic bronze in Tokyo last season. She also earned ranking points from her top-five finish at the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event.

Maroulis will have her hands full in the quarterfinals, as she'll wrestle against Poland's reigning U23 world champion No. 8 Anhelina LYSAK (POL). If the Rio Olympic champ wins that match, she'll compete against Mexico's first-ever women's wrestling Olympian No. 4 Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) or No. 5 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER).

The lower side of the 57kg bracket received a shock earlier this week as reigning world and Asian silver medalist Anshu ANSHU (IND) underwent right elbow surgery. She was seeded No. 3 at the weight but is expected to be replaced by Mansi MANSI (IND), who moved into the No. 6 seed in Anshu's absence.

Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) owns the second seed on the bottom of the chart.

Nikovlova will have No. 7 Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) in the quarterfinals. It'll be a rematch from the 2022 European finals, where the Ukrainian wrestler picked up a huge upset over the Bulgarian.

The winner of Nikovlova and Hrushyna Akobiia will take on the winner of No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) and No. 6 Mansi.

59kg seeds:
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND)
No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL)
No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
No. 5 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
No. 6 Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR)
No. 7 Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
No. 8 Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER)

If seeds hold at 59kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND) vs. No. 8 Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER) (top side)
No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) vs. No. 5 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) (top side)
No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) vs. No. 7 Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) (bottom side)
No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL) vs. No. 6 Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND)vs. No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) (top side)
No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) vs. No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND) vs. No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)

Sarita storms to top seed at 59kg
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND) proved she's one of the best wrestlers in the world at 59kg. Over the last year, she's only lost two matches. After losing at the World and Asian Championships, she fought back and won bronze medals. She also won Ranking Series titles at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and Zouhaier Sghaier, which helped her earn the top billing at 59kg. 

Sarita sits on the top side of the bracket with No. 8 Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER), No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) and No. 5 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA). If Sarita gets past Brugger, she'll likely have Nichita. Although Kolesnik is seeded higher, Nichita has been wrestling on another level this year.

Nachita is undefeated this season, winning U23 and Senior European titles to go along with her Yasar Dogu Ranking Series gold medal.

On the bottom side, Mongolia's Oslo world bronze medal winner Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) is seeded second. She'll wrestle No. 7 Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) in the quarterfinals before meeting the winner of No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL) and No. 6 Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR).

62kg seeds:
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA)
No. 3 Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)
No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
No. 5 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
No. 6 Marwa AMRI (TUN)
No. 7 Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
No. 8 Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER)

If seeds hold at 62kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER) (top side)
No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) vs. No. 5 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) (top side)
No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA) vs. No. 7 Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) (bottom side)
No. 3 Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA) vs. No. 6 Marwa AMRI (TUN) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) (top side)
No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA) vs. No. 3 Kayla MIRACLE (USA) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA)

Tynybekova takes 62kg top seed 
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) tops the 62kg bracket and has put herself in a prime position to win a third consecutive world title.

Tynybekova earned the No. 1 seed after a silver-medal finish at the Olympic Games, a world title in Oslo and a runner-up finish at the Asian Championships. She'll have to get through No. 8 Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) in the quarterfinals to set up a possible Asian finals rematch with No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN). 

Tynybekova injury defaulted out of their Asian finals and settled for second place.

For the Tynybekova and Ozaki rematch to happen, the Japanese wrestler has to get through European bronze medalist No. 5 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the quarterfinals. 

Lais NUNES (BRA) earned the nod for the second seed on the bottom side of the chart. She's arguably the most traveled wrestler in the world this season. She started the season off at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event, where she scored a tech fall over top seeded Tynybekova. Then, she wrestled at the Pan-American Championships, Matteo Pellicone and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series events before wrapping up her pre-world championship tour at the Ion Corneanu & Ladislau Simon Memorial.

Nunes will face No. 7 Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) in the quarters. In their last meeting, the Brazilian fell to the Canadian in a back and forth 7-5 battle and went on to win a bronze medal, while Godinez went on to grab gold in Acapulco.

If Nunes can avenge that loss, she'll take on reigning world runner-up No. 3 Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA) or Rio Olympic bronze medalist No. 6 Marwa AMRI (TUN) in the semifinals.

65kg seeds:
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU)
No. 4 Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL)
No. 5 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
No. 6 Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA)
No. 7 Asli DEMIR (TUR)
No. 8 Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA)

If seeds hold at 65kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. No. 8 Mallory VELTE (USA) (top side)
No. 4 Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) vs. No. 5 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) (top side)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) vs. No. 7 Asli DEMIR (TUR) (bottom side)
No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) vs. No. 6 Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. No. 4 Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) (top side)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) vs. No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)

Morikawa secures No. 1 seeda at 65kg
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) heads into Belgrade possessing the top seed at 65kg. She won the Asian Championships earlier this year and a silver medal at last year's World Championships.

Morikawa's first seeded opponent will be No. 8 Mallory VELTE (USA), who she'll see in the quarterfinals. If she wins that match, she'll take on the winner of No. 4 Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) and No. 5 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR).

On the bottom side, Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) is seeded second. She picked up the second seed after runner-up finishes at the European Championships and the Bolat Turlykhanov Ranking Series event. She'll wrestle No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) or No. 6 Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) in the semifinals.

68kg seeds
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA)
No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
No. 4 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
No. 5 Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL)
No. 6 Irina RINGACI (MDA)
No. 7 ZHOU Feng (CHN)
No. 8 Pauline Denise LECARPENTIER (FRA)

If seeds hold at 68kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) (top side)
No. 4 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) vs. No. 5 Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL) (top side)
No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA) vs. No. 7 ZHOU Feng (CHN) (bottom side)
No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) vs. No. 6 Irina RINGACI (MDA) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA K(GZ) vs. No. 4 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) (top side)
No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA) vs. No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA K(GZ) vs. No. 2 Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)

Zhumanazarova gains top seed from Olympic champ Mensah Stock

Reigning world champ Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) seized the top seed at 68kg after four podium finishes at point-based events. After finishing in third place at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Kyrgyz star won gold at the Oslo World Championships. During her 2022 campaign, she picked up silver medals at the Yasar Dogu and Asian Championships.

Through her efforts in wrestling at point-based events, Zhumanazarova put herself on the opposite side of the bracket as Olympic medalists No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA) and No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), and reigning 65kg world champion No. 6 Irina RINGACI (MDA).

Olympic champion Mensah Stock headlines the bottom side of the bracket as the second-seeded wrestler. She'll see No. 7 ZHOU Feng (CHN) in the quarters. Mensah fell to Zhou in the finals of Matteo Pellicone a few years ago. If she can avenge that loss, she'll take on the winner of Oborududu or Ringaci for a finals berth.

72kg seeds:
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)
No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN)
No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
No. 5 Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU)
No. 6 Bipasha BIPASHA (IND)
No. 7 Kendra Augustine Jocelyne DACHER (FRA)
No. 8 Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

If seeds hold at 72kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. No. 8 Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) (top side)
No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) vs. No. 5 Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) (top side)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) vs. No. 7 Kendra Augustine Jocelyne DACHER (FRA) (bottom side)
No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN) vs. No. 6 Bipasha BIPASHA (IND) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) (top side)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) vs. No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN)  (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)

Bakbergenova bags top billing at 72kg
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) bagged the top billing at 72kg after an undefeated 2022 season. After closing out last year as a world runner-up, the Kazakh won gold at the Asian Championships and picked up Ranking Series titles at the Yasar Dogu and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup.

Bakbergenova's first seeded opponent will come in the quarterfinals against No. 8 Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR). Then, in the semifinals, she'll compete against the winner of No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) and No. 5 Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU).

On the bottom side, it'll be No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) and No. 7 Kendra DACHER (FRA) in the quarterfinals. Then, the winner of that match will square off against the victor of No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN) and No. 6 Bipasha BIPASHA (IND).

76kg seeds: 
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) 
No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST)
No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
No. 5 Francy RAEDELT (GER)
No. 6 Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTO)VA (UKR)
No. 7 Martina KUENZ (AUT
No. 8 Catalina AXENTE (ROU)

If seeds hold at 76kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Catalina AXENTE (ROU) (top side)
No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. No. 5 Francy RAEDELT (GER) (top side)
No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) vs. No. 7 Martina KUENZ (AUT ) bottom side)
No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST) vs. No. 6 Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTO)VA (UKR) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) (top side)
No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) vs. No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST)  (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY)

Medet Kyzy becomes third Kyrgyz wrestler to earn No. 1 seed 
In the absence of six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) picked up the No. 1 seed at 76kg. Since winning her world bronze medal in Oslo last year, Medet Kyzt has been on an absolute tear. She won golds at the U23 World and Asian Championships, Senior Asian Championships, and Bolat Trlykhanov and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series events.

Medet Kyzy's will wrestle No. 8 Catalina AXENTE (ROU) in the quarterfinals. Then, barring something catastrophic, she'll likely wrestle former world champion No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) for a spot in the world finals. 

On the lower half of the bracket, the quarterfinals will feature a matchup of world bronze medalists, as No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) and No. 7 Martina KUENZ (AUT) will go toe-to-toe. The winner of that match will take on either European champion No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST) or No. 6 Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTO)VA (UKR).

#WrestleBelgrade

World C'ships: Tynybekova fends off latest Japanese challenge; Fujinami regains world crown

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 23:54 By Ken Marantz

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- Wily Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) found a way to beat the latest hot-shot wrestler that Japan threw at her and end a recent series of losses at the hands of the premier powerhouse in women's wrestling.

Tynybekova claimed her third world title and a ticket to her fourth Olympics by masterfully beating back the attack of Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) for a 4-1 victory in the 62kg final as women's wrestling at the World Championships wrapped up on Thursday night.

"The Japanese wrestlers are very strong," Tynybekova said. "We were preparing specifically for them. The coaches knew who I would have to wrestle at this World Championships, so they prepared a strategy for me.

"I just had to go up on the mat and follow all the instructions they had given me. I think I have met their expectations."

Superteen Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) regained the world title at 53kg to give Japan its sixth women's gold of the tournament, while Buse TOSUN (TUR) became the second Turkish women's champion in history with a dramatic victory at 68kg.

In the lone remaining non-Olympic weight, teen titan Amit ELOR (USA) successfully defended her 72kg title, giving the U.S. its lone gold in the women's competition.

The tournament is also serving as the first qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with five berths available in each of the Olympic weight classes. Japan was the lone country to secure spots in all six divisions of women's wrestling.

Not surprisingly, with six champions Japan also captured its ninth straight team title, compiling 195 points to finish well ahead of the second-place United States with 135. Mongolia, with three silver medalists, finished third with 80.

Tynybekova, who became a national hero in Kyrgyzstan when she became its first-ever women's world champion and Olympic medalist, has had her share of victories and defeats against Japanese opponents.

In recent years, she lost to Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the final of the Tokyo Olympics, and fell to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at last year's World Championships in Belgrade (she would avenge the latter loss at this year's Asian Championships).

"Some people were texting me that I would never be able to become the world champion again, Asian champion, world champion," Tynybekova said. "I just kept silent. I needed just a little time to prove that we are the best."

Facing her this time on the other side of the mat was Motoki, a bronze medalist at 59kg last year who had moved up to the Olympic weight and beat both Kawai and Ozaki to make the team to Belgrade.

Motoki was the aggressor from the get-go, launching her low single attacks. But each time, Tynybekova calmly sat back on Motoki's shoulder and forced a stalemate. It seemed little concern to Tynybekova when she gave up an activity point for the only point of the first period.

In the second period, Tynybekova suddenly and without warning took her first shot, and hit the target, scoring a takedown with a low single to take the lead.

Motoki increased the pressure, but that only played into Tynybekova's hands, as she scored 2 off a counter lift to pad the lead and put Motoki into a bigger hole. Tynybekova never let her get out of it.

"In order to win this gold, I had to work hard for two years, I had to have patience, overcome all the obstacles," Tynybekova said. "Together with the team, coaches, federation, all together we won this gold."

Amid the sting of the defeat, Motoki can be content with having achieved her objective of securing a ticket to the Paris Olympics. The Japan federation has ruled that any wrestler who wins a medal at the World Championships in an Olympic weight would automatically fill the spot without any further playoffs.

For Motoki, that holds even more significance. Her father, Yasutoshi, wrestled at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Greco-Roman, and it has been her dream since childhood to join him as an Olympian.

Still, the stinging defeat offered a dose of reality, which she will surely use to motivate her in the years ahead.

"I came into the tournament confident that my wrestling could be competitive on the world level," a sobbing Motoki said. "But I'm still a long way away."

Making it to Paris was also the prime motivation for the 19-year-old Fujinami, who regained the 53kg title that she won in 2021 but was unable to defend when a foot injury kept her out of last year's World Championships.

"Last year an injury kept me from competing and it is a bitter memory," Fujinami said. "I thought, 'Next year, I will definitely win the title at the World Championships and later win the gold at the Paris Olympics.' I achieved one of them, the world title, so I'm really happy."

Facing two-time former champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) in the final, Fujinami was at her devastating best, scoring all of her points on takedowns off her lethal single-leg attack en route to a 10-0 technical fall in 4:43.

The victory, combined with her four wins in the preliminary round Wednesday, extended her current winning streak to 127 matches. She has not lost since the national junior high school championships in June 2017.

Although she secured her ticket to Paris when she won her semifinal on Wednesday, Fujinami kept her focus on the championship match.

"I clinched the spot in Paris, but I've been working the past year to become the world champion," she said. "I was happy yesterday, and I felt relieved. But I still had today to go, so I couldn't be too happy."

Like Tynybekova, Kaladzinskaya has an interesting history in relation to Japanese wrestlers. Both of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist's world titles came at the expense of Japanese who ironically would go on to win Olympic titles.

The 30-year-old defeated Eri TOSAKA (JPN) in the 48kg final in 2012 and scored a last-second victory over Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) at 53kg in 2017.

"I got advice from various people and I was able to do my wrestling," Fujinami said of facing Kaladzinskaya. "She's powerful, not a type you find in Japan."

While Fujinami again stamped herself as one of the most dominant wrestlers on the planet, she also showed a hint of vulnerability in her quarterfinal match on Wednesday against Lucia YEPEZ (ECU). But it only makes her more determined to improve.

Yepez opened the match by taking a 5-0 lead and finished with seven points overall, the most-ever scored on Fujinami by a non-Japanese opponent. Fujinami, who ended up winning the match by fall, regarded having to face adversity as a good experience.

"I think I'm still weak, but I want to be the one who stands out, so I have to get stronger and train harder," she said.

"Honestly speaking for this tournament I kept telling myself, 'Just have fun, just have fun.' In reality, it's not that it wasn't enjoyable, but I wasn't able to do much that was fun. I felt the pressure and I couldn't get my legs to move. It's the first time I experienced that, but I feel it's a sign I have also grown."

After her victory, Fujinami celebrated on the mat with her coach, who also happens to be her father Toshikazu and has been coaching her since she started wrestling as a toddler. After playfully tackling him, the two set out together on a victory lap around the mat carrying the Japanese flag.

At 68kg, Tosun made it to the top of the medal podium after twice winning bronze medals at 72kg with a spectacular victory by fall over Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) that left the Turk as stunned as her opponent.

Tosun took a 1-0 lead in the first period after scoring a stepout while on the activity clock. Mongolians are well known for their big throws, and in the opening moments of the second period, Enkhsaikhan hit a beauty for a 4-point move.

The only problem was that Tosun never stopped the momentum and rolled through, putting Enkhsaikhan onto her back before clamping down for the fall in 3:15.

With the triumph, Tosun joined Yasmin ADAR (TUR) as the lone woman to win world titles for Turkiye. Adar won 75/76kg golds in 2017 and 2022. She did not return this year to Belgrade to defend her title.

In the non-Olympic weight on the program, Elor kept a firm grip on the 72kg title by holding off the attacks of Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), using her tremendous strength to power to an 8-2 victory.

"That was my game plan, I wanted to keep pressure on, I wanted to have close contact, and it looks like that's what she wanted also," Elor said. "So it was interesting, I think it's a really good match for me to look back on and learn from.

"I have a lot to work on, a lot to get better and improve at. But at the end of the day, I'm a world champion, which is amazing. I'm so happy."

Elor took a 3-0 lead in the first period with two stepouts sandwiched around an activity point. In the second period, the American scored a snap-down takedown before Enkh Amar finally broke through the armor and scored a takedown of her own, only to see Elor quickly gain a reversal. Elor then added her final points when she stopped a late throw attempt.

"I'm very confident with my hips," Elor said. "I love to rethrow, I like to score off of someone else's throw. But I need to work on my positioning. I shouldn't get in those positions. But it was a great match and I really enjoyed the fight."

The question now for the two-time world champion is what her plans are regarding the Paris Olympics.

"I don't know for sure yet, but most likely I'll go down [to 68kg]," she said. "We'll see because ever since a young age, I've never cut weight. And so if I do go down, it has to be in a healthy way. It has to be what feels best for me and my body."

Yepez gives Ecuador first medal

Another country joined the list of medal winners when Yepez gave Ecuador its first-ever world medal in any style by sweeping to a 10-3 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in a bronze-medal match at 53kg.

In avenging a 14-4 loss to Prevolaraki in the bronze-medal match last year in the same venue, the lightning-quick Yepez blasted out to a 6-0 lead with three takedowns, then held off a late push to secure the historic bronze.

Another up-and-coming wrestler, world U20 champion ANTIM (UWW), took home the other 53kg bronze by beating Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) in arguably the most entertaining match of the night session, a freewheeling 16-6 technical fall completed as time expired.

The 19-year-old Antim, who had a 4-point barrel roll in the first period to lead 6-6 on criteria, went on a 10-point scoring spree in the second to put the match away and win a medal in her senior world debut.

The most dramatic match came at 68kg, where Irina RINGACI (MDA) squandered a 6-1 lead against 2022 silver medalist Ami ISHII (JPN) and fell behind with 45 seconds left, only to score the winning 2 with a counter-lift with 10 seconds for her second straight bronze.

Ishii, needing to win the match to clinch an Olympic berth for herself, gave up a 4-point counterthrow in the first period that would factor into criteria situations, so she worked to take the outright lead. She managed to do it with three takedowns in the second period.

But as she tried to hold off a late throw from Ringaci, the Moldovan reached over the top and lifted her up and over for 2 and a miracle finish. It was Ringaci's third world medal, having also won the gold at 65kg in 2021.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) gave the Olympic host country its first women's quota when she overwhelmed Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by a 10-0 technical fall for the other 68kg bronze and her fourth career world medal.

Larroque, a bronze medalist last year at 65kg, struck early with a 4-point arm throw in the first period, then reeled off three takedowns in the second to end the match in 5:13.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) earned a rare Olympic spot for Norway, scoring a takedown in the first period and a stepout in the second for a 3-0 victory over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at 62kg.

It was Bullen's second world medal, adding to the 59kg silver she won last year. Dudova was the gold medalist a year ago at 59kg.

The other 62kg bronze went to Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 10-0 technical fall of Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), a repeat of her quarterfinal victory en route to the gold at the European Championships -- right down to the score.

Koliadenko got her first four points one at a time, with three stepouts and an activity point. Then she got a takedown and reeled off two gut wrenches to end the match at 4:29.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the 2022 world 65kg champion who was wrestling at 72kg for the first time in her life after failing to make Japan's team at 68kg, will return with a bronze medal after beating Kendra DACHER (FRA) 4-2.

Morikawa went ahead with an activity point and stepout in the first period, then added a stepout with a fleeing point to go up 4-0. Dacher managed a consolation takedown with five seconds left.

For what it's worth, Morikawa completed the collection of world medals, having also won a silver in 2021 at 65kg. But what will be of more concern for her was that Ishii's loss reopened the door for her to the Paris Olympics.

Three-time Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the world silver medalist the past two years, will take home the other 72kg bronze after notching a 4-1 win over Natalia STRZALKA (POL).

Bakbergenova seemed to get the spark she needed after giving up an activity point to fall behind 1-1 on criteria, immediately scoring a stepout and then adding a takedown.

Ishii rebounds

Ishii managed to come back from her heartbreaking defeat and secure the only quota in Paris that Japan had not yet clinched -- although to make it hers, she's going to have to go through the same domestic fight that she went through to get to Belgrade.

Ishii, who could barely move off the mat after her exhausting loss to Ringaci, scored a takedown on a low single in the first period and made that stand in a 2-0 victory over Bruntil in the fifth-place playoff at 68kg.

Sweden and Germany gained the other Olympic spots at stake, with Malmgren beating Prevolaraki by fall at 53kg and Niemesch gaining a second-period takedown to edge Dudova 3-2 at 62kg.

Day 6 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) by TF, 10-0, 4:43

BRONZE: Luisa YEPEZ (ECU) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 10-3
BRONZE: ANTIM (UWW) df. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) by TF, 16-6, 6:00

5th-Place Playoff: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) by Fall, 2:09 (2-0)

62kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 4-1

BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-0
BRONZE: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) by TF, 10-0 4:29

5th-Place Playoff: Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-2

68kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) by Fall, 3:14 (3-4)

BRONZE: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by TF, 10-0, 5:13
BRONZE: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Ami ISHII (JPN), 8-8

5th-Place Playoff: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA), 2-0

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), 8-2

BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Natalia STRZALKA (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Kendra DACHER (FRA), 4-2

Greco-Roman

55kg (20 entries)
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)

Semifinal: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), 3-2
Semifinal: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 7-4

77kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

Semifinal: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), 5-0
Semifinal: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Nao KUSAKA (JPN), 7-5

82kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) vs. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)

Semifinal: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 5-5
Semifinal: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 5-1

130kg (30 entries)
GOLD: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)

Semifinal: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1
Semifinal: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 1-1