Nine Reigning World Champs Remain No. 1 in Latest World Rankings

Monday, May 6, 2019 - 14:37 By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 6) -- United World Wrestling has released the lastest women’s wrestling rankings after the conclusion of the Continental Championships, and nine gold medalists from last year’s Budapest World Championships sit atop of their respective weight classes. Asia has four top-ranked wrestlers, while Europe and Pan-American countries each have three.

Japan has three of the four top-ranked Asian wrestlers. Their trio of No.1’s are Yui SUSAKI (JPN) (50kg), Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) (55kg), and Risako KAWAI (JPN) (59kg). The fourth Asian wrestler who owns a top ranking is China’s Ningning RONG (CHN)(57kg).

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) (62kg), Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN) (65kg), and Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) (68kg) are the three European No.1-ranked wrestlers.

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) (86 points), Justina DI STASIO (CAN) (72kg), and Adeline GRAY (USA) (76kg), who are all from Pan-American nations, round out the first-ranked wrestlers in this month’s rankings.

Of the ten wrestlers sitting atop of the rankings, the lone non-returning world champion that owns a No.1-ranking is the United States’ Sarah Hildebrandt. She started the season with 40 points from her world silver medal, then earned 20 points for her Pan-American gold, 14 points for her Ivan Yariguin title, and 12 points for her third-place finish at the Dan Kolov.

Susaki’s Spot in Jeopardy at 50kg
Japan’s reigning two-time world champion Yui Susaki sits atop of the world ranking at 50kg with 60 points - but her starting spot for the Nur-Sultan World Championships is in jeopardy. Susaki was forced to pull out of December’s All-Japan Championships after dislocating her elbow at the national team training camp in November, resulting in her missing the Continental Championships.

Japan’s 50kg replacement was Yuki IRIE. Irie went to the Asian Championships in Xi’an, China, and won the Asian title, earning her a No. 12-ranking with 20 points.

For Susaki to regain her spot before September’s Nur-Sultan World Championships and defend her world title, she’d have to win the title at the All-Japan Invitational Championships, also known as the Meiji Cup, next spring, then defeat the winner of the Emperor’s Cup in a playoff.

Say Irie, or any Japanese wrestler at that, happens to stop Susaki from making the world team, Ukraine’s second-ranked Oksana LIVACH (45 points) will move up to the No. 1-seeded wrestler at the World Championships. Livach, the 2018 world bronze medalist, won the European title, capping off her continental title run with a 6-4 win over Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) and added 20 Ranking Series points to her previous total of 25 points.

China’s world and Olympic bronze medalist SUN Yanan (43 points) fell short to Irie in the Asian finals, but still collected 18 points, which is good enough for the third ranking. Azerbaijan’s eight-time world and Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (40 points) rounds out the top-four at 50kg with 40 points.

Belarus’ Kseniya STANKEVICH (34 points) will be the beneficiary of a Susaki fallout. Stankevich, who’s in the fifth slot, will move into a top-four seed in Nur-Sultan.

Potential 50kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. No. 4 Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. No. 3 Yanan SUN (CHN)

Hildebrandt Lone No. 1 Non-Returning World Champion
The United States’ Sarah Hildebrandt (86 points) holds a 26 point advantage over Japan’s defending world champion Haruna OKUNO (60 points) and garners the No. 1-ranking at 53kg.

Hildebrandt, whose world silver in Budapest was worth 40 points, finished on the podium at the first two Ranking Series events and the Continental Championships. The American earned 20 points for her Pan-American gold, 14 points for her Ivan Yariguin title, and 12 points for her third-place finish at the Dan Kolov.

The second-ranked wrestler at 53kg is world champion Haruna Okuno. Okuno lost her starting spot, at least for the Continental Championships, to the reigning world champion up at 55kg, Mayu MUKAIDA.

Budapest world bronze medalists PANG Qianyu (CHN) (55 points) and Canada’s Diana WEICKER (CAN) (41 points) are third and fourth-ranked wrestlers respectively in this month’s standings. If Mukaida holds onto Japan’s starting spot at 53kg and knocks out Okuno, Pang and Weicker would both move up one spot, bringing up Ecuador’s Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (36 points) into the fourth seed.

Potential 53kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT vs. No. 4 Diana WEICKER (CAN)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Haruna OKUNO (JPN) No. 3 PANG Qianyu (CHN)

Sidakova to Move into Top Spot if Mukaida Stays Down
Though she’s ranked No. 1 at 55kg, reigning world champion Mayu Mukaida has dropped down to 53kg, and will ultimately forfeit her top-ranking to Belarus’ world runner-up Zalina SIDAKOVA (60 points).

Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) and Myong Suk JONG (PRK) are the other two wrestlers ranked inside the top-four at 55kg. Sedneva, the third-ranked wrestler, has 28 points, which comes from an Asian Championships third-place finish and a Dan Kolov finals appearance.

Fourth-ranked Jong (25 points), the 55kg world bronze medalist, has also changed weights since the World Championships. Jong bumped up to 57kg at Asian Championships where she knocked off four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) before falling in the finals, settling for the silver medal.

With the departure of Mukaida, Jong, and three others in the top-eight wrestlers at this weight, Turkey’s European bronze-medal finisher Bediha GUN (22 points) and China’s XIE Mengyu (20 points), who are ranked sixth and ninth respectively, will move into a top-four seed in Nur-Sultan.

Potential 55kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) vs. No. 4 Myong Suk JONG (PRK)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) vs. No. 3 Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)

Rong One of Two Wrestlers with Nearly 100 Ranking Series Points
China’s 2018 world champion Rong Ningning leads arguably the most loaded weight class in the world, 57kg. With her 96 points, Rong joins 62kg world champion Taybe Yusein with the most Ranking Series points in the world across all styles.

Bulgaria’s European champion and world silver medalist Bilyana DUDOVA owns the second-ranking at 57kg with 62 points. Dudova, the European champion at 59kg, is the only wrestler at this weight that could catch Rong and take over that No. 1 spot. For her to do so, she’d have to win the Sassari and the Yasar Dogu, and have Rong sit out of both tournaments.

Norway’s U23 world champion and Budapest fifth-place finisher Grace BULLEN is ranked third with 58 points. Bullen, who had a disappointing European Championships, finishing in seventh place, took second at the Dan Kolov and third at the Yariguin. Her pair of podium finishes at the first two Ranking Series events earned her 26 combined points.

The fourth-ranked wrestler is five-time African champion and Dan Kolov bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NRG) (46 points).

Potential 57kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 RONG Ningning (CHN) vs. No. 4 Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs. No. 3 Grace BULLEN (NOR)

Kawai Moves Down to 57kg, Yesilirmak to Take Top Spot at 59kg
This weight’s reigning world champion and current No. 1-ranked wrestler Risako Kawai dropped down to 57kg with hopes of defending her Rio Olympic title but lost her spot to four-time Olympic champion Kaori Icho in the process. It’s not clear if Kawai will return to 59kg for the 2019 World Championships, but if she does, she’ll be the top-seeded wrestler with 60 points.

If Kawai doesn’t come back up to 59kg, Turkey’s Elif YESILIRMAK (56 points) will move to the top of the bracket, moving Japan’s second top-five ranked wrestler Yuzuka INAGAKI into the top-four.

Yesilirmak, last year’s 59kg world runner-up, just finished in third place at the European Championships behind Russia's European runner-up Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), who sits in a close third, six points behind the Turkish wrestler with 50 points.

India’s Sarita SARITA (30 points) is the fifth-ranked wrestler at 59kg and will earn a top-four seeded wrestler when the World Championships roll around. The reason being, there are two Japanese wrestlers ranked inside the top-four, and only one wrestler per nation can be entered into the World Championships. This will knock out either No.1 Kawai or No. 4 Inagaki, and move Sarita into the fourth seed.

Potential 59kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Risako KAWAI (JPN) vs. No. 5 Sarita SARITA (IND)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) vs. No. 3 Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)

Yusein Wins Back-to-Back European Titles, Seals No. 1 Seed 62kg
Bulgaria’s reigning 62kg world champion Taybe Yusein, who has 96 Ranking Series points, has locked up the No.1 seed at the World Championships with her 38 point lead over second-ranked Yukako KAWAI (JPN) (58 points). As previously mentioned, Yusein, along with China’s Rong Ninging, are tied for having the most Ranking Series points in the world across all styles with their 96 points.

Mallory VELTE (USA) and Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) both have 43 points and placed third at least year’s World Championships, but Tkach Ostapchuk’s European absences and Velte’s participation in the Pan-American Championships gives the American the No. 3 spot. (Highest number of participation in the ranking events*)

Potential 62kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) vs. No. 4 Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Yukako KAWAI (JPN) vs. No. 3 Mallory VELTE (USA)

Olli Locks up Top Spot at 65kg
Finland’s first-ever women’s wrestling world champion Petra Olli (88 points) has over twice as many points as second-ranked Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS ) (41 points) and had sealed the No. 1 seed at the World Championships.

Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) and Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA) both have 40 Ranking Series points, but the Canadian wrestler gets the nod for the third spot because of her runner-up finish at the World Championships. (Rank in the last Senior World Championships or Olympic Games)

Potential 65kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN) vs. No. 4 Forrest MOLINARI (USA)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) vs. No. 4 Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN)

Cherkasova Being Chased my Mensah for No. 1 Seed at 68kg
Though she’s locked up at least a top-two seed at the World Championships, No. 1 ranked Alla Cherkasova hasn’t cemented the top ranking just yet. Tamyra MENSAH (USA), who has 59 Ranking Series points, could still catch the reigning Ukrainian world champion if she wins the final two Ranking Series events, and Cherkasova sits out both tournaments. This would give the American 95 Ranking Series points, which would be three ahead of the Ukranian.

Mongolia’s SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (44 points) and China’s Feng ZHOU (41 points) round out the top four in the 68kg rankings.

Potential 68kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) vs. No. 4 ZHOU Feng (CHN)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Tamyra MENSAH (USA) vs. No. 3 SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg

Di Stasio Set to Make Return After Ankle Surgery
Canadian world champion Justina Di Stasio hasn’t competed since winning gold in Budapest, but still remains the top-ranked wrestler in the world at 69kg. Di Stasio is expected to make her return to the mat over the next two weeks after undergoing surgery to fix a chipped bone in her ankle. If she stays down at the non-Olympic weight of 72kg, she’ll be the No. 1 seed at the World Championships.

Turkey’s world bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR) (49 points) jumped Mongolia’s OCHIRBAT Nasanburmaa (48 points) for the second spot, but only holds a one-point advantage over the Budapest world silver medalist.

The fourth-ranked wrestler at 72kg is Egypt’s African champion Samar HAMZA, who has 43 points heading into the final two Ranking Series events.

Potential 72kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Justina DI STASIO (CAN) vs. No. 4 Samar HAMZA (EGY)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Buse TOSUN (TUR) vs. No. 3 OCHIRBAT Nasanburmaa (MGL)

Gray Leads Adar by Two Points
America’s Adeline Gray (78 points) sits atop a weight class flooded with a depth of talent, 76kg. Gray stands two points in front of the woman she defeated to win her fourth world title last year in Budapest, Yasemin ADAR (TUR) (76 points).

Gray and Adar both won their continentals championships.

Gray won the Pan-American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a fall over No. 15 Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) in the gold-medal match. Her continental title win guaranteed her at least a top-four seed at 76kg.

Adar, the 2017 world champion, won the European title, defeating No. 14 Martina KUENZ (AUT), 6-2. This was Adar’s fourth consecutive gold medal at the European Championships.

Third-ranked Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN), who had 25 bronze-medal points from the world championships, added 16 points from her Asian runner-up finish and an addition 16 gold-medal points from the Ivan Yariguin, bringing her overall point total to 57 points.

European bronze-medal finisher Aline FOCKEN (GER) rounds out the top-four with 56 points.

Potential 76kg Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Adeline Maria GRAY (USA) No. 4 Aline FOCKEN (GER)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. No. 3 Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN)

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 3 Results: Yaneva wins 68kg; Ostaev Best in GR 87kg

Friday, February 27, 2026 - 18:59 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 27) -- World silver medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) opened her 2026 season with a gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in Tirana. Just two months before the European Championships, Yaneva's gold medal makes her the favorite to win gold.

In a field that had Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) and European medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), Yaneva displayed tactical wrestling on her way to pick gold, blanking Zhumanazarova in the final.

While the final lacked action, it was full of some top-level defense with Yaneva being quick to throw her legs back whenever she was attack, circling to get in position and even remained active in both periods to be not put on the activity clock.

Zhumanazarova, however, was put on the clock twice and she failed to score both times, giving Yaneva a 2-0 lead, which was also the winning score.

Macey KILTY (USA) defeated Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) in the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At the other Olympic weight class in action on Friday, world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) added a gold medal to her season opening bronze at the Zagreb Open three weeks ago.

Kilty, who has moved down to 62kg from 65kg this season, secured three victory via technical superiorities and one was a 9-0 blanking in the semifinals.

The 24-year-old opened the day with a 10-0 win over Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) and won next bout against Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) with the same score. Facing Zagreb Open silver medalist Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) in the semifinal, Kilty brought her counter-attacking game and won 9-0.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) was moving up to 62kg from 59kg and she felt the difference against Kilty in the final as the American was little too strong for Sidelnikova. Despite giving up two points in an exchange, Kilty controlled the final to win 12-2.

Kilty and Sidelnikova had met in the opening round at the Zagreb Open as well and the former had won via fall.

Othelie HOEIE (NOR) scores the match-winning takedown against Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 59kg, Othelie HOEIE (NOR) won her first international medal in over two years by Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2, in the final.

In 2023, Hoeie had one of her best season, winning bronze at the World and European Championships. But since, she has failed to win a medal at six events over the past two years.

The drought finally ended and that too with a gold as Hoeie won three low scoring but tactical bouts in Tirana. She began with a 4-0 victory over Dilan TAN (TUR) before stopping Abigail NETTE (USA), 2-0, in the semifinals.

In the final against Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), Hoeie was about to be called passive when her forward pressure took Lipatova towards the edge and Hoeie scored a takedown to open the scoring and lead 2-0.

Lipatova took a 2-2 criteria lead early in the second period with a powerful takedown that Hoeie failed to defend. As the clock ticked, Hoeie attempted various attacks but with no success.

But in the final minute, Lipatova defending a takedown by pressuring Hoeie's on the mat but the Norway wrestler managed snuggle out of that and score a clear takedown to lead 4-2.

She defended that lead for the final 44 seconds to win a Ranking Series gold, the first of her career.

Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) battles it out against Kriszta INCZE (ROU) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) kept it later to beat Kriszta INCZE (ROU). 4-2, for the gold medal.

Kasabieva was put on the activity clock in both periods and she failed to score any points in those, giving Incze a 2-0 lead. But as the second period expired, Kasabieva scored a takedown to make it 2-2 but led on criteria, thanks points via bigger technique.

Incze tried a last-ditch attempt in the final 10 seconds but an alert Kasabieva stepped backwards before scoring the match sealing takedown.

Alan OSTAEV (UWW) prepares to throw Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) during the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ostaev, Stepanov Win Greco Golds

Former world champion Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) was in unreal form today looked like he is going to run away with the 87kg gold medal. He almost did as well.

In the final against Alan OSTAEV (UWW), Gobadze hit a reverse lift for four points to lead 5-3. But Ostaev managed to score a front headlock roll to cut the lead to 5-3.

It all changed in the second period when Ostaev exposed Gobadze's weak conditioning. He scored points using a gut-wrench from par terre and won the gold medal 12-5.

World champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) was also entered in the weight class but Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) stunned him 1-1 in the opening bout. Alirzaev lost his second bout to Gobadze, 6-6, before returning to win the bronze medal.

Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) kept it a simpler against Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW), pulling off a 4-0 victory in the 77kg final.

He began with a stepout against Baidusov which was doubled up as Baidusov was penalized for fleeing, giving a 2-0 lead to Stepanov. Then came the point for first par terre position. Though Stepanov failed to score any points, he was up 3-0 at the break.

In a rare occasion, Stepanov was awarded the second par terre position as well in the second. He again failed to score but held a 4-0 lead which he defended until the clock expired.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

59kg
GOLD: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Abigail NETTE (USA) df. Dilan TAN (TUR), 3-1

62kg
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 12-2

BRONZE: SAVITA (IND) df. Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), 7-5
BRONZE: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR). 7-4

65kg
GOLD: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU). 4-2

BRONZE: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) df. Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Apeksha PATIL (IND), 4-3

68kg
GOLD: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 2-0

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. KIRTI (IND), 8-4
BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Solin PIEARCY (USA), 10-0

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) df. Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW), 4-0

BRONZE: Amir ABDI (IRI) df. Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ), 4-3
BRONZE: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 5-3

87kg
GOLD: Alan OSTAEV (UWW) df. Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), 12-5

BRONZE: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 8-4
BRONZE: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) df. Islam ALIEV (UWW), 9-0

Morning Session Highlights

15:35: Greco 87kg semifinals - Two high scoring semifinals as Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) slams Islam ALIEV (UWW) twice using reverse lift to win 9-0 while Alan OSTAEV (UWW) scores takedowns at will against Istvan TAKACS (HUN) to beat him 8-0

15:25: Greco 77kg semifinals - Two Iranians fall in the semifinals at 77kg. Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) beats Amir ABDI (IRI), 3-2, after defending well in the second period. He scored a turn in the first period from par terre to take a 3-0 lead. When asked to go down on par terre in the second period, he gives up only a points to keep the 3-2 lead. He will take on Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) for the gold medal after the UWW wrestler denied Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 6-1.

15:15: 68kg semifinals - In what was the match of the day, Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) held Nesrin BAS (TUR) down with all her might to win the semifinals at 68kg. Zhumanazarova led 3-0 but Bas was given a point for Zhumunazarova's play and then the Kyrgyzstan wrestler was failed to score during the activity clock that made the score 3-2. Bas got on a single leg attack during the last 15 seconds but was unable to expose Zhumanazarova despite constant pressure. A lost challenge from Bas made the score 4-2 for Zhumanazarova.

For the gold medal, Zhumanazarova will face world silver medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL). A slow start to the semifinal between Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) with the former getting called passive and Sjoeberg leading 1-0 at the break. But Yaneva scores a takedown and a stepout in the second period to lead 3-1. Sjoeberg managed to get on an attack was about to takedown to Yaneva but the Bulgarian disturbed the Sweden wrestler and scored a lift to get two points and gave up one for the reversal to complete a 5-2 win.

15:00: 65kg semifinals - Apeksha PATIL (IND) gave an early scare to Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) but the latter manages to stand firm despite constant attacks from Patil. She counters those attacks and score five takedowns in her 12-2 win. She will face Kriszta INCZE (ROU) for the gold medal after the Romanian blanked Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ), 10-0.

14:50: 62kg semifinals - Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) scores a stepout with four seconds remaining to win the semifinal against Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA). Nwachukwu led 3-2 but pressure from Sidelnikova forces the American out of the zone which gives Sidelnikova a 3-3 criteria lead. The U.S. challenges the call but loses to make it 4-3 with four seconds left. Nwachukwu doesn't give up and gets body lock and throws Sidelnikolva in time but the UWW wrestler does not land in danger, hence no points. Sidelnikova will face Macey KILTY (USA) after she denied Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 9-0, in the first semifinals. She scored four takedown and a stepout. Lindborg got on her attacks multiple times but failed to finish them.

14:40: 59kg semifinals - Former world bronze medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR) picks up a 2-0 win over Abigail NETTE (USA). Both points coming from activity clock points. She will face Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW) for the gold medal after Lipatova also managed a 2-0 win against Bediha GUN (TUR), points for a takedown in the first period.

Semifinals will begin at 14:00 hours local time

13:40: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), world bronze medalist, got the par terre in first period but failed to score any points from there. On the other hand, Alan OSTAEV (UWW) scored two takedowns in his 6-1 victory over Zhanyshov to advance to the semifinals at 87kg.

13:20: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) manages to defend his par terre position against Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) to defeat the Kazakhstan wrestler 4-1 and advance to the semifinals at 87kg.

13:00: World silver medalist Yulia YANEVA (BUL) with a controlled 5-1 victory over KIRTI (IND) while Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) beats Solin PIEARCY (USA), 10-0, to advance to the semifinals at 68kg

12:50: Not to be for Grace BULLEN (NOR) in an all Nordic battle against Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) at 62kg. Lindborg was controlling Bullen in a pin position but failed to get it. However, her 8-2 lead was enough to get the victory over Bullen

12:45: World bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) with a leg lace to build a 9-0 lead over Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) at 62kg. In the second period, Prokopevniuk with an aggressive move which forces the referees to caution her and award a point to Kilty, giving the American a 10-0 victory

12:30: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), world silver medalist at 65kg, with a clean and controlled 6-0 victory over Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) at 65kg. Moments later, Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) beats SAVITA (IND) at 62kg, 11-0.

12:20: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) got the par terre position in the second period over Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) with the score reading 6-2 in favor of the latter. But Alirzaev managed one turn to make it 6-4 with over a minute remaining. He needed three points for a victory. He scored a takedown to make it 6-6 but could not find one more point for the win. He drop the bout and with that world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) will not get a repechage and return home without a medal.

12:00: World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) led 3-2 at the break against Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) and then scored two more points in the second period to complete a 5-2 victory at 87kg.

11:40: Alireza Morad ABDEVALI (IRI) with a stepout in the second period to beat U23 world champion Alexandru GUTU (MDA), 3-2, at 77kg. Gutu scored a takedown in the first period to lead 2-0. But he gave up a stepout before being put in par terre which made the score 2-2. As Abdevali was not able to score, Gutu held the criteria for a bigger move. But Abdevali scored a stepout to break the tie and win.

11:25: A quick win for Olympic Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) over Destiny ADEYELE (USA), finishing her first bout at 68kg, 11-0.

11:15: Grace BULLEN (NOR) was trailing 5-2 against MANSI (IND) with 10 seconds left but manages to bring down the Indian with an outside trip and a fall. While the fall was not confirmed before the clock expired, Bullen wins 6-5. Nothing else expected of Bullen

11:10: SAVITA (IND), a former U20 world champion, SAVITA (IND) with a fall over Lais NUNES (BRA) at 62kg. Savita overpowering Nunes there. But in the next match on Mat B, ANJLI (IND) gives up her lead and Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) beats her 14-7 at 62kg.

10:50: Alirzaev beats Komarov! World champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) is on the mat to face Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) at 87kg. Alirzaev gets the first par terre advantage but fails to score any points. In the second period, Komarov gets the position but he also fails to score. Alirzaev then defends his 1-1 criteria lead to win.

10:30: The third day of the Ranking Series will see the Greco stars take the mat with 77kg and 87kg while Women's Wrestling continues in 59kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 68kg.

Nine Reigning World Champs Remain No. 1 in Latest World Rankings

Comments

Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 3 Results: Yaneva wins 68kg; Ostaev Best in GR 87kg