#UWWRankings

Four USA women top ranked after continental championships

By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (May 26) -- In the last three months, wrestlers have been busy competing at the continental championships to attain ranking points.

With the four tournaments now over, the rankings present a clearer picture of where the wrestlers stand in terms of ranks with only three more events remaining to earn more points.

Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in Almaty, Matteo Pellicone in Rome and Zouhaier Sghaier in Tunis are the Ranking Series events that will help wrestlers earn points and get seeds for the September World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia where the top eight wrestlers will get seeded.

Women's rankings saw major changes and as the points get closer, more wrestlers are entered for the next ranking series event in Almaty.

50kg
Her Olympic bronze, World Championships silver and now the Pan-Am gold has steered Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) clear at the top spot at 50kg. The USA wrestler now has 84200 points while world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is second with 55000 points.

Yoshimoto won the Asian title in April to move ahead of Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) who has 51000 points. The two are expected to compete against each other for a spot on Japan's World Championships team.

European silver medalist Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) takes the fourth spot with 49900 points while bronze medalist Emilia VUC (ROU) has 49100 points at the fifth position.

Yanan SUN (CHN), Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RWF) and Mariya STADNIK (AZE) occupy the sixth to ninth positions but have not competed since the Olympics or Worlds last year.

Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR won a silver medal at home at the Asian Championships to increase her points to 31000 and is 10th in the rankings followed by African champion Sarra HAMDI (TUN) [30980 points] at 11th  and Pan-Am silver medalist Madison PARKS (CAN) [29200 points] at 12th.

European champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) broke into the top-15 with her gold and now has 21600 points.

Bolortuya BAT-OCHIR (MGL)Bolortuya BAT-OCHIR (MGL) is the top ranked wrestler at 53kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

53kg
Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BATOCHIR missed the Asian Championships but is still the top-ranked wrestler at 53kg with 56200 points, thanks to her gold at the Istanbul Ranking Series. 

But the battle for the top five is intense as world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) won her first Asian title as well and is now second with 55000 points.

European Championships bronze Iulia LEORDA (MDA) takes the third spot with 53700 points. She received 6500 points for the effort in Budapest. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) won silver at the Pan-Am Championships and jumped to fifth spot and has 51000 points, the same as Olympic champion and fourth-placed Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN).

Qianyu PANG (CHN) has 41400 points for the sixth spot but Samantha STEWART (CAN) can overtake her soon as she has 39000 points after finishing fifth at the Pan-Ams.

World bronze medalist Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) is eighth after her bronze at the Euros with 37500 points, 2700 points more than European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) [34800 points]. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BWF) rounds off the top-10 as she trails Malmgren by just 600 points at the 10th position.

From 11-16, the ranking gets even closer as Annika WENDLE (GER) has 27520 points at 11th, Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR) has 25000 points at 12th, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) has 23200 points at 13th, Pan-Am champion Dominique PARRISH (USA) has 23200 points at 14th, while two Tokyo Olympics fifth -- Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) and Joseph ESSOMBE (CMR) -- are 15th and 16th with 23000 points each.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)World champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) continues to be at the top at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

55kg
World champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) continues to lead the rankings with 43000 points. However, she won her first Asian title at 57kg and is expected to stay in that weight. The next best then comes Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) with 37000 points after her silver medal at the European Championships for 8000 points.

World silver Nina HEMMER (GER) is third with 35000 points while bronze at the same tour Jenna BURKERT (USA) is fourth with 29000 points. European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) has 26200 points after her gold which helped her break into the top five.

India's PINKI (IND) is sixth with 23000 points, followed by Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RWF) [23000 points] and Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) [19000 points], Mehlika OZTURK (TUR) [18100 points] and African champion Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) [15000 points] in the top-10.

Pan-Am champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN) debuted in the rankings with 10000 points and takes the 12th spot.

Helen MAROULIS (USA)Helen MAROULIS (USA) leads the 57kg rankings with 79200 points. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

57kg
Helen MAROULIS (USA) skipped the Pan-Am Championships but her bronze at the Olympics and gold at Worlds have helped her pocket 79200 points to be number one in the rankings.

A close second is Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) with 72200 points as she won the Istanbul Ranking Series gold after her Olympic bronze and later added a European silver medal. World silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND) won another silver at the Asian Championships to be back in the top three with 58500 points.

Iryna KURACHKINA (BWF) has 51600 points to be fourth followed by Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) [51000 points]. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RWF) is sixth with 35200 points.

In the absence of Maroulis, Giullia DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) had a chance to win the Pan-Am gold but she ended up with a bronze which gave her only 6500 points. She now has 32180 points at the seventh spot.

Silver at Pan-Ams Alma ESCOTO (MEX) is 10th with 29300 points while Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) is 11th with 25000 points.

Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL) and Valeria KOBLOVA (ROC) were fifth at the Olympics and are 12th and 13th in the rankings with 23000 points each.

Junior world champion Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) comes in at number 14 with 20500 points while Bolortuya KHURELKHUU is at 15th with 17900 points.

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)Second placed Sarita MOR (IND), right, has the best chance to replace world champ Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at the top at 59kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

59kg
No one has been able to overtake world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) as the top-ranked wrestler. She has 45000 points from the Worlds and still sits at the top. Silver to her at Worlds Akie HANAI (JPN) is third with 37000 points.

Separating the two is bronze medalist Sarita MOR (IND) with 38050 points. She moved past Hanai with a bronze at the Asian Championships for 3250 points. Fourth is Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) with 35000 points after her silver medal at the Asian Championships.

She was fourth at the European Championships but the 58000 points helped Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) move from ninth to fifth as she now has 28300 points, 3300 points more than sixth-placed Maya NELSON (USA). Sara LINDBORG (SWE) has 25000 points in the seventh spot while Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) has 24400 points to be eighth.

European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) has 21000 points as she also won the Istanbul event. Linda MORAIS (CAN) has 18200 points to be ranked 10th.

Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (SWE) has 17000 points at 11th, Krystsina SAZYKINA (BWF) has 15500 points at 12th, Ebru DAGBASI (TUR) has 10880 points at 13th and Elif YANIK (TUR) has 10600 points at 14th.

African champion Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) debuts in the rankings at 15th with 10000 points.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has 94400 points at the top at 62kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

62kg
She may not have won gold medals at Istanbul Ranking Series and Asian Championships but Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has an enormous lead over her opponents at 62kg. She won a silver at Olympics, gold at Worlds and silver at Asians to have 94400 points at the top.

The next best wrestler is Olympic bronze and European champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) with 53200 points followed by World and Pan-Am silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) who has 51200 points. Yukako KAWAI (JPN) has 51000 points at fourth with Lais NUNES (BRA) at fifth with 43900 points.

Japan's new sensation at 62kg Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is fifth with 41000 points as she won bronze at the Worlds and gold at the Asian Championships.

Two Ukraine wrestlers take the seventh and eighth spots as Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) has 34200 points while Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) has 31500 points.

World bronze medalist Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) has been pushed down to ninth as she has 31000 points while Pan-Am champ Ana GODINEZ (CAN) has risen to 10th with 27000 points.

African champion Marwa AMRI (TUN) added 10000 points to be 12th in the rankings as she now has 24000 points.

Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) with 21300 points is 15th in the rankings.

Forrest MOLINARI (USA)Pan-Am champion Forrest MOLINARI (USA) is the top ranked wrestler at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

65kg
Forrest MOLINARI (USA) had replaced world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) at the top by winning gold in Istanbul and now she is 5000 points clear at the top with the Pan-Am title. She now has 49000 points against Ringaci's 45000 points. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) added the Asian title to her World silver to be third with 42000 points.

The rest of the field lags behind in points as fourth-placed Malin MATTSSON (SWE) has only 31000 points followed by Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) at fifth with 25000 points. Maryia MAMASHUK (BWF) also has 25000 points but is sixth.

European silver medalist Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) has 24400 points at the seventh position while bronze medalist Kriszta INCZE (ROU) has 23220 points to be eighth. Dinara KUDAEVA (RWF) [19350 points] takes the ninth spot.

European champion Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) breaks into the top-10 at 10th with 19000 points for her title and 11th position at the World Championships.

The points she collected at the Olympics and World Championships -- 18200 -- take Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) to the 11th spot. Asli DEMIR (TUR) is 12th with 17000 points and Aina TEMIRTASSOVA (KAZ) is 13th with 15500 points.

After winning a bronze at the Istanbul Ranking event, Khadija JLASSI (TUN) won a silver medal at the African Championships to earn 14200 points and move to the 14th spot. Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL) rounds off the top-15 with 13280 points.

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) has 91600 points at the top spot at 68kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

68kg
Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) missed the gold at World Championships and then skipped the Pan-Am Championships which allowed world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to take the top spot at 68kg with 91600 points. Mensah has 80000 points at the second position. Zhumanazarova, however, will rue the fact that she could not create a bigger cap as she missed out on gold at the Istanbul event and Asian Championships.

In Istanbul, Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) won gold and followed that up with the African title to be ranked third with 74400 points.

Others are playing catch-up in the rankings as Khanum VELIEVA (RWF) is fourth with 49200 points followed by world silver Rin MIYAJI (JPN) with 35000 points.

Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) is sixth with 34200 points and 1000 points behind her is Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) at seventh. Tokyo Olympics fifth-placers Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) and Sara DOSHO (JPN) take the eighth and ninth spots as both have 23000 points each. Fith at the World Championships Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) also has 23000 points and is 10th.

The top-15 places are rounded off by Feng ZHOU (CHN) [16200 points], Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR) [16200 points], Ambar FLORES (MEX) [15400 points], Anna SCHELL (GER) [13500 points] and Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) [13500 points].

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) remains the top ranked wrestler at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

72kg
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) continues to be at the top at 72kg with 48000 points while Anna SCHELL (GER) is second with 45400 points as he moved ahead of arch-rival Buse TOSUN (TUR) 41000 points who is fourth. Separating them at third is Masako FURUICHI (JPN) who has 43000 points.

Fifth-placed Davaanasan ENKH-AMAR (MGL) is lagging behind with just 26250 points followed by Cynthia VESCAN (FRA) who has 23000 points. Divya KAKRAN (IND) takes the seventh spot with 16200 points.

Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BWF) with 15000 points is eighth while Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL) is ninth with 13500 points. Junior world champion Kylie WELKER (USA) tops off the top-10 as she has 12300 points.

Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) has 10200 points at 11th, Kseniia BURAKOVA (RWF) is 12th with 9400 points,  Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK) has 7000 points at 13th, Kendra DACHER (FRA) takes the 14th spot with 6500 points.

Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) has 6500 points to finish in the top-15 rankings at 72kg.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), blue, can overtake world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) at the top at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

76kg
Adeline GRAY (USA) will not be at the World Championships which means Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) has the opportunity to take the top rank and seed. Gray still leads the ranking with 86400 points but Medet Kyzy has 77000 points and has three tournaments to go past Gray.

World bronze and African champion Samar HAMZA (EGY) will also fancy her chances for the top seed as she has 61100 points at third. But it will a big task for her. Moreover, European silver medalist Epp MAE (EST) has 60000 points at fourth and can go past Hamza.

Olympic champion Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) has 51000 points for her gold but is retired and cannot move up. But bronze medalist in Tokyo and European champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) can break into the top three as she has 44200 points at the sixth spot.

Qian ZHOU (CHN) is number seven with 34200 points and is likely to get a seed at Worlds if she is registered in September.

Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) and Kiran GODARA (IND) have 25000 points each to take the eighth and ninth positions respectively while Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) rounds off the top-10 with 23000 points.

Francy RAEDELT (GER) has 21500 points at 11th, Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) has 19700 points at 12th and Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN (MGL) has 18200 points at the 13th position.

Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) takes the 14th spot with 17000 points while Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) is 15th with 16700 points.

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 3 FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 55kg, 59kg Highlights

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 15) -- The World Championships day three will see the start of Women's Wrestling in Zagreb. Two weight classes -- 55kg and 59kg -- will be in action. Freestyle will continue in 65kg and 97kg with two Olympic champions in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

65kg semifinals
SF 1: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs Piabani (CAN)
SF 2: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Umidjon JALALOV (UZB)

14:56: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) comes back from a 2-0 down to beat Andrii BILIICHUK (UKR) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Biabani scored three stepouts and a takedown to take the lead and held on to it to win the quarterfinals.

14:55: SUJEET (IND) gave it all against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the 65kg quarterfinals but Amouzad got a takedown in the final 20 seconds to be safe. Amouzad scored four stepout to lead 4-0 but struggled with conditioning. Sujeet scored a takedown and stepout to make it 4-3. Needing only one to win, Sujeet committed to a far leg attack and Amouzad countered with a takedown to make it 6-3. Sujeet scored a takedown with 4 seconds on the clock but could not get one point for the win. Amouzad reaches semifinal with a 6-3 win.

14:52: Olympic champ Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) fires out at the gun in his 65kg quarterfinal against Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), grabbing a single leg, snatching the other ankle and going straight to a lace-lock roll. The action, however, is so fast he is given just 2 points, which proves enough as he fends off Ibragimov to post a 3-0 victory. Kiyooka's final point came on an unsuccessful challenge after the buzzer when Ibragimov's side tried to get the Japanese penalized for fleeing, but the judges ruled he properly defended.

14:51: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) breaks open a close match with a pair of takedowns in a 20-second span of the second period, then holds on for a 5-3 victory over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) to advance to the 65kg semifinals. Jalolov held the criteria advantage after both had received an activity point, but scored a takedown at with 1:20 left, then added another a short time later. Rivera picked up a takedown with :22 to go, but it was too little, too late.

55kg semifinals
SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyong Ryong OH (PRK)
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) vs. Andreea ANA (ROU)

14:41: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) uses her lace to great effect to deny any comeback from Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the 55kg quarterfinals. Oh manages to go past Kamaloglu 14-7

14:40: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) reaches the 55kg semifinals after beating Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) 10-5. It was a takedown masterclass from Uchida who led 8-0 before Khomenets had a big four pointer. But Uchida kept her cool and managed to win 10-5.

14:39: Andreea ANA (ROU) runs 2022 world bronze medalist Karla GODINEZ (CAN) out of the ring in the final minute for a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on, putting her into the 55kg semifinals with a 3-1 victory. Each wrestler had received an activity point, with the Canadian holding the last-point criteria.

14:39: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) scores three takedowns, which is enough to trump the 4-point takedown that Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB) chalked up and temporarily put her in the lead. Verbina walks away with a 6-4 victory in the 55kg quarterfinal, in which all of the points came in the first period.

59kg semifinals
SF 1: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

SF 2: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) vs. Maria VYNNYK (URK)

14:30: Elena BRUGGER (GER) and Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) trade takedowns in the second period but Brugger leads 3-3 on criteria with a 2 minutes left. She makes it 5-3 with a takedown before two lace turns make it 9-3 with 1 minute left in the match. BUT TOGTOKH WITH A BIG MOVE AND FALL! She beats Brugger despite the latter leading 9-5 and advances to the 59kg semifinals.

14:26: After spotting Bediha GUN (TUR) a four-point lead, Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) comes back to go ahead on criteria in the second period, only to fall behind again. But Beauregard comes up with a late takedown to win 6-6 on criteria and earn a spot in the 59kg semifinals.

14:25: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)  hits the move of the day in the women's competition, tossing Othelie HOEIE (NOR) for 5 with a high-amplitude back suplex en route to a 11-0 victory to advance to the 59kg semifinals.

14:20: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with an inside trip and the fall over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) after a 12-0 lead. She advances to the 59kg semifinal and a step closer to the first senior world title. She is a two time world U20 champion, the second coming just a month ago in Samokov, Bulgaria.

97kg semifinals
SF 1: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
SF 2: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)

14:15: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) survives a huge scare against Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) in the 97kg quarterfinals. Kurbanov threated to run away with it when he began with two stepouts to lead 2-0. He made it 4-0 with a takedown but Tazhudinov got going in the second period with a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2. He used a front headlock move to score six more points to lead 8-2. A challenge, which was lost, from Kurbanov made it 9-4. But Kurbanov got a breather and then got a takedown to make it 9-6. In the final 15 seconds, he managed a front chestwrap exposure but Tazhudinov got a reversal as the score changed to 10-8. Tazhudinov gave up a stepout but still managed to win 10-9.

14:10: Young Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)  puts on an impressive display of power, scoring five stepouts in bulling to a 6-2 victory over Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) to advance at 97kg. Yoshida's other point came on a rare reversal after he gave up a takedown. That sets up a rematch with Snyder of their semifinal encounter at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February won 5-5 by the Japanese.

14:09: Kyle SNYDER (USA) provides no openings for Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in their 97kg quarterfinal as the seven-time world medalist post a workmanlike 5-0 victory comprised of a takedown, two stepouts and an activity point.

14:05: The first semifinalist at 97kg is Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) who beats VICKY (IND) 10-0 in 3:30. A blast double in that match from Azarpira for four points.

13:55: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) spends much of his 65kg match trying to chase down the elusive Ayub MUSAEV (BEL), but he manages to snatch an ankle enough to score three takedowns, with one thigh-lock roll added in for a 9-4 victory. There was one lapse of caution, when Kiyooka was thrown for 4 on a counter lift, but was otherwise in no danger.

13:40: Real WOODS' (USA) got on point in his match against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and that was for a lost challenge from the Iranian. Otherwise, Amouzad showed why his underhooks are lethal, scoring 10 points from the move to win 12-1. A stepout and point for lost challenge from the United States were the other two points.

13:36: Three-time former European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) chalks up a 4-point move in the first period and two stepouts in the second and she's through to the 55kg quarterfinals with a 6-3 victory over 2024 world U20 champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

13:35: World silver medalist Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) to secure his place in the 65kg quarterfinals.

13:28: SUJEET (IND) with a typical hard-working win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) at 65kg. A lot of stepout given up by a tired Kim. Sujeet into the quarterfinals.

13:25: Asian champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) looks like one to beat at women's 55kg as she storms to a 12-2 victory over Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) to advance to the quarterfinals. Oh has a reply to all of Samoil's counter moves, and her victory in 2:36 includes a 4-point takedown off a double leg.

13:25: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) with a fall over veteran Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT) at 55kg. Verbina is looking to win a first world medal at the senior level and she looks good to do it.

13:13: World silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) warms up with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Hyerim LEE (KOR) at 55kg. Khomenets is looking find her old form after returning from an injury.

13:12: Less than a month after winning a second straight world U20 gold, Sakura ONISHI (JPN) begins her quest for a title in her senior world debut with a 10-0 rout of Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) at 59kg.

13:09: European champion and Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) eases by Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) 4-0 in his opening match at 97kg as he looks to improve on his two career world bronze medals. A takedown in the first period and activity points in each half were all he needed.

13:10: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) holds on to her 8-4 lead and beats NISHU (IND) at 55kg to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Championships. This is her debut at the senior level

12:59: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), looking to give Japan a rare medal in the upper weights, continues his run with a 10-0 victory over Ertugrul AGCA (GER) at 97kg. Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the kids club in Japan where he started the sport, scores a takedown and lace-lock roll in the first period, then finishes up the match with three takedowns in the second.

13:00: Pyol HONG (PRK) and Elena BRUGGER (GER) waited and waited for some action. Brugger took a 2-1 lead when Hong was on the second activity period and did not score. In the final 10 seconds, Hong locks Brugger's arms and throws her for two points and wins 3-2. Germany challenges the call. There was no danger for Brugger in that throw and the scores are reversed to 2-1 and a victory for Brugger at 59kg.

12:53: In a contentious match at 97kg that included penalty points and a dressing down of both wrestlers from the match chairman, Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) comes away with a 6-3 victory over Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL).

12:42: Kyle SNYDER (USA), a 10-time world and Olympic medalist, begins his quest for an 11th one with a 10-0 victory over Cristian SARCO (VEN) at 97kg. He missed out on a medal in Paris, the first World or Olympics since 2015 that he failed to win a medal.

12:40: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), competing internationally for the first time since his triumph at 65kg at the Paris Olympics -- with a new, braided hair style -- opens with a 13-2 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN). It is Alibegov who strikes first, surprising the Olympic champion with a quick double-leg takedown. But Kiyooka replies with a single-leg takedown, then transitions to his patented thigh-lock with the head between the legs and rolls twice for a 6-2 lead. He adds a stepout before the buzzer. Kiyooka stays on the attack in the second period and gains a takedown and two traditional lace-lock rolls to end the match in 4:59.

12:32: Paris Olympic and 2023 world bronze medalist Sebastien RIVERA (PUR)appears to wake up after giving up an early stepout to Chouaib SAHRAOUI (ALG) at 65kg. He comes back with a takedown, then goes on a gut wrench spree to make it 12-1, at which point Sahraoui throws in the towel and it officially goes into the books as a fall at 1:57.

12:30: World and Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) faces Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) in his first match at 97kg. He begins with a takedown and stepout to lead 3-0. A blast double for four to make it 7-0. Two points for exposure to make it 9-0 before he finishes the match with a stepout.

12:29: Budpest Ranking Series champion SUJEET (IND) storms out to a quick 6-0 lead against Cavit ACAR (TUR) at 65kg, but it suddenly begins to evaporate as Acar scores a pair of defensive exposures and the exchange reversals. That puts Sujeet up 7-5 at the break. But he pulls away in the second period, with a 4-point takedown when Acar attempts a reverse counter lift and an unsuccessful challenge gives Sujeet a 15-5 win.

12:25: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was leading 5-0 but Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) hit a takedown and rallied a leg-lace to win to win 16-5. Tevanyan seems in some trouble with his knee. Armenia challenges and the last turn is removed. But down 14-5, Tevanyan managed only three more points as Kudiev wins 14-8.

12:18: Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) wastes little time in getting his campaign for a second career world gold at 65kg off to roaring start, using a 4-point takedown to finish off a 13-0 whitewash in just under two minutes. over Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ).

12:15: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) controls his bout against Gantulga BATBAATAR (MGL) throughout the six minutes to win 12-0 and advance at 65kg. Ibragimov is trying to win his first world medal

11:54: Real WOODS (USA) gives no chance to Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) in his 65kg opening bout. Woods with a gut-wrench to rack up those points but he wins 11-0

11:38: A victory for the Philippines. In a battle between wrestlers from countries trying to develop the sport, American-born Arian CARPIO (PHI) defeats Victoria CHHEN (AUS) 7-0 to advance at women's 59kg. Carpio, who competed for the U.S. until 2019, scores a takedown-lack lock combination and stepout in the first period, then caps the win with a second-period takedown.

11:35: Seems like Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) has recovered from an ankle injury she picked at the U20 World Championships. She starts her 55kg campaign with a 10-0 victory over Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)

11:20: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) matches 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with an activity point and stepout, but both of his come in the second period and that gives the Iranian a 2-2 victory on last-point criteria at 97kg.

11:20: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), a world 55kg champion in 2019, moved up to 59kg for this World Championships but Hong LIANG (CHN) shows Winchester that there are different levels to this. She pins Winchester

11:14: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) picks up a first-period fall against Domantas PAULIUSCENKO (LTU) at 97kg, a weight class that is absolutely packed

11:10: In the first of many high-profile matchups to come in the super-stacked 97kg division, 2023 world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) gives up a takedown and the lead with just under two minutes left to Magomed KURBANOV (UWW), the 2021 silver medalist at 92kg. But Aitmukhan gets behind off a scramble with :48, then adds a stepout. But a second apparent stepout with :08 left is overturned on challenge and awarded to Kurbanov, suddenly giving him a 4-4 lead on criteria. A last-ditch challenge at the end is denied, giving Kurbanov a 5-4 win.

10:58: Asian bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) gets a first-period takedown and that holds up for a 2-0 victory over Junsik YUN (KOR) to clear his first hurdle at 65kg.

10:50: A match marred with multiple medical timeouts, Olympic bronze medalist and world silver medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) has to be carried off the mat after he called for an injury. Magomedov and VICKY (IND) battled it out and the India wrestler led 5-0 before Magomedov woke up. The score was 9-7 with Vicky leading but Magomedov scored a takedown and turn to lead 11-9. But he failed to recover for a restart and the match was decided with Vicky as winner.