rankings

China Dominates Women's Wrestling Rankings with 6 Ranked No.1

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (March 8) -- China dominates the 2018 Ranking Series in women's wrestling with six wrestlers ranked No.1. 

China's top-ranked wrestlers include Chun LEI (50kg), Xingru PEI (57kg), Ningning RONG (59kg), Feng ZHOU (68kg), Yue HAN (72kg) and Qian ZHOU (76kg).

Other No.1-ranked wrestlers: Yongmi PAK (PRK) at 53kg, Saki IGARASHI (JPN) at 55kg, Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) at 62kg and Petra OLLI (FIN) at 65kg.

Olli claimed a gold medal at the Klippan Lady Open in February.  

Winners of the Ranking Series events each received 8 points, plus an additional point for ever entry in their bracket. Placement points (plus number entries) were also awarded to the rest of the top five finishers: runner-up (6), bronze (4) and fifth place (2).

Points will be automatically uploaded on the UWW homepage following the conclusion of all Ranking Series events, continental and world championships.

In case of a points tie between two or more athletes, the following will determine the highest ranked individual:

-              Highest number of participation in the ranking events*
-              Highest number of Gold Medals in the ranking events*
-              Highest number of Silver Medals in the ranking events*
-              Highest number of Bronze Medals in the ranking events*
-              The most classification points in the ranking events*
-              The most match won by superiority in the ranking events*
-              The most technical points scored in the ranking events*

* Continental Championship and UWW Select Ranking Events of the concerned year.

Should top seeded athletes not participate in the Senior World Championships or Olympic Games the same criteria will be applied to determine which athletes move into the seeding for the event.

50kg 
1. Chun LEI (CHN) // 24 Points
2. Vinesh VINESH (IND) // 22 Points
3. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) // 21 Points
4. Yuki IRIE (JPN) // 20 Points
5. Narangerel ERDENESUKH (MGL) // 20 Points

53kg
1. Yongmi PAK (PRK) // 22 Points
2. Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) // 20 Points
3. Nanami IRIE (JPN) // 19 Points
4. Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) // 18 Points
5. Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) // 18 Points

55kg
1. Saki IGARASHI (JPN) // 21 Points
2. Hyemin OH (KOR) // 19 Points
3. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) // 17 Points
4. Lannuan LUO (CHN) // 17 Points
5. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) // 16 Points

57kg
1. Xingru PEI (CHN) // 22 Points
2. Sara NATAMI (JPN) // 20 Points
3. Sae NANJO (JPN) // 19 Points
4. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) // 18 Points
5. Yeseul KIM (KOR) // 18 Points

59kg
1. Ningning RONG (CHN) // 22 Points
2. Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) // 20 Points
3. Bisola MAKANJUOLA (NGR) // 18 Points
4. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) // 18 Points
5. Sangeeta SANGEETA (IND) // 18 Points

62kg
1. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) // 22 Points
2. Xiaojuan LUO (CHN) // 20 Points
3. Yurika ITO (JPN) // 18 Points
4. Sakshi MALIK (IND) // 18 Points
5. Kayla colleen kiyoko MIRACLE (USA) // 17 Points

65kg
1. Petra maarit OLLI (FIN) // 18 Points
2. Kaur NAVJOT (IND) // 18 Points
3. Hannah Amuchechi RUEBEN (NGR) // 17 Points
4. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) // 16 Points
5. Miyu IMAI (JPN) // 16 Points

68kg
1. Feng ZHOU (CHN) // 21 Points
2. Danielle suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN) // 20 Points
3. Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) // 19 Points
4. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) // 18 Points
5. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) // 18 Points

72kg
1. Yue HAN (CHN) // 18 Points
2. Anna jenny eva maria FRANSSON (SWE) // 16 Points
3. Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) // 16 Points
4. Winnie GOFIT (NGR) // 15 Points
5. Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS) // 14 Points

76kg
1. Qian ZHOU (CHN) // 21 Points
2. Adeline maria GRAY (USA) // 20 Points
3. Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) // 19 Points
4. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) // 18 Points
5. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) // 17 Points
 

#development

UWW conducts REDT program in Benin

By United World Wrestling Press

OUIDAH, Benin (December 20) -- United World Wrestling (UWW), in collaboration with the Benin Wrestling Federation, the Benin National Olympic Committee and the national sports authorities, successfully organized the Regional Education and Development Wrestling Tournament (REDT), which took place in Ouidah from November 23 to 30, 2025.

This event represents the first tournament ever organized in West Africa, marking a major milestone in UWW’s wrestling development strategy on the African continent.

Ten countries from the West African region took part in the tournament, contributing to a framework of technical and educational exchanges aimed at enhancing the competencies of wrestling stakeholders.

Deqa NIAMKEY, Director of Development at United World Wrestling, paid an official visit to Benin. She praised the progress achieved by the Benin Wrestling Federation and recalled the core objective of the REDT program.

"The REDT was initiated by United World Wrestling to support countries in the sustainable development of wrestling.”

Niamkey also conducted a sports administration education session with representatives of national federations, while Youssef BOUAZIZ delivered an online training session on ARENA.

Benin

Ahead of the competitions, a regional coaches’ education program was conducted from November 24 to 27, 2025, bringing together coaches, referees, athletes and technical staff from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Senegal.

This program was delivered by Vincent AKA, UWW Expert and Development Officer, and concluded with theoretical and practical evaluations leading to the award of UWW International Coaching Certifications Levels 1 and 2.

Celestin PAVELESCU, UWW Expert, led the refereeing education program in Olympic Wrestling and Beach Wrestling, contributing to the improvement of technical standards and the harmonization of officiating practices across the region.

The competitions were held on November 29, 2025 at the IRSP Gymnasium, while the Beach Wrestling events took place on November 30, 2025 at the Door of No Return Beach, an emblematic site of Ouidah’s historical and cultural heritage.

The host nation particularly distinguished itself during this edition, winning a total of 35 medals (11 gold, 15 silver and 9 bronze).

The development strategy focused on youth and the introduction of wrestling in the school environment, with a strong representation of U17 wrestlers, illustrates the long-term vision pursued by the Benin Wrestling Federation.

At the conclusion of the competition, the President of the Benin Wrestling Federation, Adihunkpéto YVES AZIFAN, congratulated all wrestlers and coaches, while reaffirming the federation’s commitment to position Benin sustainably among the leading nations of African and international wrestling.