#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest: What to watch in women's wrestling

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 8) -- If you wanted to see a trailer of what the World Championships in Belgrade will look like, don't miss the fourth Ranking Series, Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial, in Budapest next.

As nations try to pick their squads for the World Championships, which offer quotas for the Paris Olympics, the Budapest event has added significance along with the medals and the prize money even though the tournament allows two-kilogram weight tolerance.

Freestyle has seen 174 registrations so far while Greco-Roman has 196. Women's wrestling will see 182 wrestlers in action when the competition begins Thursday.

With so much action on three mats, here are a few matchups that you cannot miss in women's wrestling.

50kg
World silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) will be headed to Budapest for her second international tournament of the year. She participated in the Zagreb Open in February, finishing eighth after losing to Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Dolgorjav has been one of the top 50kg wrestlers since winning the bronze at the 2021 World Championships. She improved to silver at the second edition and remained undefeated in the World Cup.

But Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), who is in the purple patch of her career, will be looking to avenge her loss to Dolgorjav. The Olympic bronze medalist was on her way to a second straight world final in 2022 but Dolgorjav defeated her in the semifinals.

The Belgrade bout saw a fierce battle between the two but Dolgorjav put on a superior defensive performance to notch up a 6-2 win. Having learned her lessons from that loss, Hildebrandt may go for a different strategy if the two meet in Budapest.

Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) is a two-time European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

53kg
At 53kg, expect some top bouts from the opening round itself. Canada has three wrestlers at this weight class while Poland, China, Hungary, and Ukraine have two each. World champion Dominique PARRISH (USA), Tokyo Olympic medalists Qianyu PANG (CHN) and Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL), big-throwing Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) will be the names to keep an eye on.

One match-up that fans need to keep an eye on is Malmgren facing Pang. The two-time European champion has been making a name for herself since missing a chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, winning the U20 world, two European and a U23 European title.

Pang, on the other hand, has only had two tournaments since winning the silver in Tokyo. She was part of China's World Cup squad and won two of her three outs. She claimed the Asian gold at 55kg in April which marked her return to the top.

With a long break, Pang may be rusty and will have counter Malmgren's powerful attacks from underhook. The match-up pairs two powerful wrestlers with a high percentage of upper-body attacks.

 

55kg
The last time VINESH (IND) and Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) met, the latter pinned Vinesh after building a lead. That was the Istanbul Ranking Series in February 2022, with Vinesh coming back after a few battles with mental health after a disappointing Tokyo Olympics in which she failed to win a medal and faced public wrath including from the Wrestling Federation of India.

Winchester, who won the gold medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series gold in February, will once again be the favorite as Vinesh has been out of competition since the 2022 World Championships in which won a bronze medal.

However, fans can expect a fierce battle between the two, contrasting the meek affair from Istanbul.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) is moving down to 57kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

57kg
The Olympic qualification period always makes wrestlers switch to the Olympic weight class and Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), world champion at 59kg, is moving back to 57kg for Budapest. Nichita has lost one bout, the final of the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series, since 2022. Her dominance has majorly been at 59kg in which she won her third European gold in April.

In Budapest, she will have to face some tests and Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) will be the toughest of them. Hrushyna won the European gold in Zagreb at 57kg and has been one of the best at this weight class since returning from injury in late 2021.

In the last two years, she has lost only to Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Sae NANJO (JPN) and won 11 medals, including eight gold, in as many tournaments.

Hrushyna is known for her leg attacks and mixes them with big throws from standing. Her defense may be a challenge for Nichita who has some incredible skills for big throws and takedowns.

Undoubtedly, the two will be cautious of each other and if they meet on the mat, expect a battle like no other.

62kg
After a disappointing start of the year, finishing 13th in Zagreb, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) returned to the top at 62kg winning gold at Ranking Series in Alexandria and Asian Championships. She will be the favorite to win another gold when she steps on the mat in Budapest at 62kg.

Three months later, she will be in Budapest and can face European champion Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) once again. The two met in the semifinal in Alexandria and Tynybekova barely made it for a 2-0 win.

Koliadenko was stopped in her attacks by Tynybekova who got a point for activity and a lost challenge from her Ukrainian opponent. Tynybekova's defense in that bout frustrated Koliadenko who, most likely, will need to be more attacking from the word go.

Emma BRUNTIL (USA)Emma BRUNTIL (USA), red, will face Irina RINGACI (MDA) at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

65kg
Three months before the World Championships, Irina RINGACI (MDA) has decided to continue wrestling at 65kg a weight class she lost at the European Championships.

At the start of 2022, Ringaci had moved from 65kg to 68kg, raising hopes that she will now be permanently in the Olympic weight class.

In Budapest, she will face Emma BRUNTIL (USA), a bout that will offer a lot for wrestling fans. Bruntil has a solid record in Ranking Series, winning medals at four events out of five. She has reached the final of three of them.

Bruntil has shown progressive improvement over the years, most recently winning the USA team spot for the World Championships in Belgrade.

Ringaci has one of the defense and counters from positions. Her strong gut wrench may also trouble Bruntil. Given the two-kilogram weight allowance, Ringaci may be the favorite but don't count Bruntil out of this.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA)Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) won the gold medal at the Zagreb Open in February. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

68kg
A lot can happen at 68kg but keep an eye on a three-way French battle in Budapest. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), Kendra DACHER (FRA) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), all three eyeing a spot on the World Championships team, will be in Budapest at 68kg.

Larroque, Tokyo Olympian at 68kg, has been the regular at this weight class this year, winning gold at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and Zagreb Open, silver at Ibrahim Moustafa and bronze at the European Championships.

For the 2022 World Championships, Lecarpentier defeated Larroque and booked her spot for Belgrade. She lost to Ami ISHII (JPN) and to Linda MORAIS (CAN) in repechage.

Larroque and Lecarpentier met in the Henri Deglane final in January which the former won. In Zagreb Open in February, Larroque won gold while Lecarpentier won a bronze medal.

Dacher, a U23 world silver medalist from 2021 at 72kg, is moving down to 68kg with the hopes of making it to Belgrade. She was seventh last year in Belgrade and earlier this year, in a stunning drop, moved to 65kg and finished fifth.

Larroque will also look to settle scores with Forrest MOLINARI (USA) who beat her 12-2 in a bloody 68kg final in Alexandria.

76kg
If there is one weight class in women's wrestling in which no one can all the shots, it has to be 76kg. Adeline GRAY (USA) has been the favorite for years but she took a break to give birth to twins, the category has been wide open.

World champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) will be in Budapest with revenge on her mind.

At the World Cup in December, Adar faced Yelena MAKOYED (USA) in the UWW World Team vs the US match and suffered a fall.

Makoyed, who has three Ranking Series gold and is unbeaten internationally, has been a big revelation at 76kh. Just that competition back home in the US is increasingly difficult.

Adar will have to find a way to deal with the pressure Makoyed puts in her leg attacks and then the transitions. The Turkish wrestler was clearly caught off guard by Makoyed's style at the World Cup.

In a bout between two extremely powerful wrestlers, Adar may try a different tactic this time and wait for Makoyed's attacks and counter them.

Even if these two don't meet, world silver medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY), world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST), and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) are also wrestling in Budapest.

#WrestleBudapest

European Olympic Games Qualifier Entries

By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 10) --- Hungary's capital city of Budapest will host 280 athletes from 35 different nations for the European Olympic Games Qualifier (March 18-21). The top two wrestlers at each weight class will qualify their nation for August's Tokyo Olympic Games.

The European Olympic Games Qualifier will be the third qualifying event for the Olympic Games. Wrestlers who finished top-six at the '19 World Championships in Nur-Sultan and top-two at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier punched their nation's ticket to The Games.

Wrestling begins on Thursday, March 18, and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

Freestyle

57kg
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE)
Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR) 
Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL)
Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP)
Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) 
Niklas STECHELE (GER)
Gamzatgadzsi HALIDOV (HUN)
Simone Vincenzo PIRODDU (ITA)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Razvan Marian KOVACS (ROU) 
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)

65kg
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR)
Vladimir Vladimirov DUBOV (BUL)
Juan Pablo GONZALEZ CRESPO (ESP)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
George Anthony RAMM (GBR)
Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) 
Alexander SEMISOROW (GER)
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE)
Abdellatif MANSOUR (ITA)
Elmedin SEJFULAU (MKD)
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)
George BUCUR (ROU)
David HABAT (SLO)
Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR)

74kg
Eriglent PRIZRENI (ALB)
Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR)
Ali Pasha Ruslanovich UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
Jonatan ALVAREZ DIAZ (ESP)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Charles André AFA (FRA)
Amir Reza GHASEMIKIA (GBR)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
Csaba VIDA (HUN)
Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR)
Andrius MAZEIKA (LTU)
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)
Malik Michael AMINE (SMR)
Marc DIETSCHE (SUI)
Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Denys PAVLOV (UKR)

86kg
Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Ali SHABANAU (BLR)
Akhmed Adamovitch MAGAMAEV (BUL)
Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
Ville Tapani HEINO (FIN)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO)
Ahmed Ruslanovic DUDAROV (GER)
Georgios SAVVOULIDIS (GRE)
Istvan VEREB (HUN)
Patrik SZUROVSZK I(HUN)
Milan MESTER (HUN)
Uri KALASHNIKOVI (SR)
Simone IANNATTONI (ITA)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Zbigniew Mateusz BARANOWSKI (POL)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR)


Rio Olympic bronze medalist Albert SARITOV (ROU) will compete at 97kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

97kg
Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)
Ahmed Sultanovich BATAEV( BUL)
Erik Sven THIELE (GER)
Timofei XENIDIS (GRE)
Milan Andras KORCSOG (HUN)
Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU)
Albert SARITOV (ROU)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL)
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)

125kg
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR)
Georgi Lyubomirov IVANOV (BUL)
Jose CUBA VAZQUEZ (ESP)
Jere Tapani HEINO (FIN)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS)


 '17 world champion Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) will be Russia's rep at 77kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Greco-Roman

60kg
Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
Soslan DAUROV (BLR)
Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL)
Helary MAEGISALU (EST)
Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO)
Juuso Aleksi LATVALA (FIN)
Etienne KINSINGER (GER)
Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN)
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Jacopo SANDRON (ITA)
Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)
Stig Andre BERGE (NOR)
Dawid Andrzej ERSETIC (POL)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Ardit FAZLJIJA (SWE)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)

67kg
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
Islambek DADOV (AZE)
Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (BLR)
Ivo Krasimirov ILIEV (BUL)
Elmer Joakim MATTILA (FIN)
Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Krisztian Istvan VANCZA (HUN)
Balint KORPASI (HUN)
Ruben MARVICE (ITA)
Edgaras VENCKAITIS (LTU)
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL)
Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Daniel Mattias SOINI (SWE)}
Atakan YUKSEL (TUR)
Artur POLITAIEV (UKR)
Aker AL OBAIDI (UWW)

77kg
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR)
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
Oldrich VARGA (CZE)
Matias Olavi Iisakki LIPASTI (FIN)
Johnny Just BUR (FRA)
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Pascal EISELE (GER)
Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE)
Roman ZHERNOVETSKI (ISR)
Luca DARIOZZI (ITA)
Paulius GALKINAS (LTU)
Per Anders KURE (NOR)
Mateusz Lukasz WOLNY (POL)
Ilie COJOCARI (ROU)
Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Mate NEMES (SRB)
Denis HORVATH (SVK)
Fatih CENGIZ (TUR)
Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)

87kg
Artur SHAHINYAN (ARM)
Michael WAGNER (AUT)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Tarek Mohamed ABDELSLAM SHEBLE MOHAMED (BUL)
Petr NOVAK (CZE)
Vili Tapio ROPPONEN (FIN)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
Dimitrios PAPADOPOULOS (GRE)
Fabio PARISI (ITA)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL)
Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) 
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
Ramon Rainer BETSCHART (SUI)
Kristoffer Zakarias BERG (SWE)
Metehan BASAR (TUR)

97kg
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
Murat LOKIAYEV (AZE)
Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR)
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL)
Artur OMAROV (CZE) 
Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Melonin NOUMONVI (FRA)
Ramsin AZIZSIR (GER)
Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE)
Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN)
Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)
Balazs KISS (HUN)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU)
Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Pontus Johan LUND (SWE)
Oleksandr SHYSHMAN (UKR)

130kg
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Georgi CHUGOSHVILI (BLR)
Radoslav Plamenov GEORGIEV (BUL)
Stepan DAVID (CZE)
Konsta Johannes MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Adam VARGA (HUN)
Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU)
Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Sergei SEMENOV (RUS)
Boban ZIVANOVIC (SRB)
Mykola KUCHMII (UKR)

London Olympic champion Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) will compete at 76kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Women's Wrestling 
 

50kg
Natallia VARAKINA (BLR)
Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
Taru Marketta VAINIONPAEAE (FIN)
Julie Martine SABATIE (FRA)
Lisa ERSEL (GER)
Iwona Nina MATKOWSKA (POL)
Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE)
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)

53kg
Leyla GURBANOVA(AZE)
Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR)
Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL)
Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP)
Nina HEMMER( GER)
Mercedesz DENES (HUN)
Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN)
Jessica Cornelia Francisca BLASZKA (NED)
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS)
Sofia Magdalena MATTSSON (SWE)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)

57kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Graciela SANCHEZ DIAZ (ESP)
Laura MERTENS (GER)
Emese BARKA (HUN)
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Aurora RUSSO (ITA)
Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR)
Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)
Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS)
Sara Johanna LINDBORG (SWE)
Bediha GUN (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR)

Rio Olympic runner-up Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) headlines the 62kg entries. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

62kg
Tetiana OMELCHENKO(AZE)
Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR)
Lydia PEREZ TOURINO (ESP)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER)
Sara DA COL (ITA)
Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Katarzyna MADROWSKA (POL)
Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU)
Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS)
Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR)
Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)

68kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)

Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR)
Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Irina RINGAC I(MDA)
Agnieszka Jadwiga WIESZCZEK KORDUS (POL)
Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU)
Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
Buse TOSUN (TUR)


76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE)
Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)
Mariya Gerginova ORYASHKOVA (BUL)
Pauline Denise LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Georgina Olwen NELTHORPE (GBR)
Aikaterini Eirini PITSIAVA (GRE)
Zsanett NEMETH (HUN)
Bernadett NAGY (HUN)
Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR)
Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS)
Yasemin ADAR (TUR) 
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)