BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (September 13) – Japanese wrestlers lead the FILA World Rankings for women in three weight categories as the top female wrestlers turn their attention to Wrestling World Championships.

Three-time Olympic Games gold medal winners Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) have cast their long shadows over the rankings all summer at 55kg and 63kg.  They are now joined by national team newcomer Yu MIYAHARA, fresh from her triumph at 51kg at the junior world championships.

MIYAHARA, also a world cadet and Youth Olympics gold medalist, moved to the top of the rankings at 51kg with some help from European champion Roksana ZASINA (POL), who bumped off top-ranked Jessica MacDONALD (CAN) in the finals of the Poland Open.

Meanwhile, London 2012 gold medalist Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) has been challenged at home and abroad, but her five tournament victories, including the European championship, have kept her on top of the rankings.

Russian wrestlers also had early control of the 48kg rankings, but world bronze medalist Alyssa LAMPE (USA) has taken over with wins in Madrid and Spala while Universiade champion Eri TOSAKA (JPN) has moved into second.

Marianna SASTIN (HUN), meanwhile, took over the top spot at 59kg with a win in Poland over Olympic bronze medalist Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE), giving the hosts of the world championships in Budapest a top-ranked wrestler to cheer for in women’s frestyle.

At 67kg, Asia champion Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) has been the leader all summer despite her hard-fought loss to Sara DOSHO (JPN) in the Universiade finals.

The rankings are listed by the wrestler’s name, country code, most recent or most significant result of the year, and the wrestler’s ranking the previous month.

> See the International wrestling rankings Women's freestyle (September 2013)