RIO DE JANEIRO (August 16) – Kaori ICHO (JPN) begins her quest for a fourth Olympic Games gold medal Wednesday as the women’s wrestling competition begins at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Icho opens in the round of 16 with perennial African champion and three-time Olympian Marwa AMRI (TUN). The path to the 58kg final could also include encounters with world bronze medalists Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR), Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) or world champion Oksana HERHEL (UKR).

PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL), who saddled Icho with his first loss in 13 years in January, starts in the preliminary bouts at the bottom of the bracket and likely faces a round of 16 meeting with 2014 world silver medalist Valerie KOBLOVA-ZHOLOBOVA (RUS).

The lower half of the bracket also include 2015 world runner-up Petra OLLI (FIN), Asia champion TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and 2015 Pan American Games gold medalist Joice SOUZA DA SILVA (BRA).

At 48kg, Mariya STADNIK (AZE), seeking a gold medal to add to her Olympic collection, faces likely encounters with 2014 world silver medalist Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) and European Games silver medalist Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL).

Three-time world champion Eri TOSAKA (JPN) sits atop the upper half of the bracket as No.1 seed, and will be seeking a chance to reverse a Asian championships loss to former world champion SUN Yanan (CHN) in the semifinals.

At 69kg, three of the four positions in the preliminary bouts belong to Beijing 2008 bronze medalist Agnieszka WIESZCZEK-KORDUS (POL), 2013 world champion Alina MAKHYNIA (UKR) and world bronze medalist Sara DOSHO (JPN).

Meanwhile, world silver medalist ZHOU Feng (CHN) and 2014 world champion Alina FOCKEN (GER) square off at the top of the lower half of the bracket.

London 2012 and reigning world champ Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) appears to be looking at a smooth glide into the semifinals, but could face a challenge from four-time European silver medalist Ilana KRATYSH (ISR) as Israel makes it Olympic Games debut in women’s wrestling.

Women’s Wrestling 48kg (18 entries)

Preliminary Round
Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) v KIM Hyon-Gyong (PRK)
Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL) v Rebecca MUAMBO (CMR)

Round of 16
Eri TOSAKA (JPN) v Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ)
Jessica BLASZKA (NED) v Haley AUGELLO (USA)
Vinesh VINESH (IND) v Alina VUC (ROU)
SUN Yanan (CHN) v Jasmine MIAN (CAN)

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) v Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) v Mercy GENESIS (NGR)
Soheara CHOV (CAM) v Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL)
Winner A v Winner B

Women’s Wrestling 58kg (20 entries)

Preliminary Round
Pr A - Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) v Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Pr B - Sakshi MALIK (IND) v Johanna MATTSSON (SWE)
Pr C - Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) v PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL)
Pr D - Valeria KOBLOVA-ZHOLOBOVA (RUS) v Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)

Round of 16
Kaori ICHO (JPN) v Marwa AMRI (TUN)
Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) v Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR)
Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) v Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER)
Oksana HERHEL (UKR) v Yuliya RATKEVICH (AZE)

Petra OLLI (FIN) v Aminat ADENIYI (NGR)
Joice SOUZA DA SILVA (BRA) v Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Winner A v Winner B
Winner C v Winner D

Women’s Wrestling 69kg (18 entries)

Preliminary Round
Pr A - Agnieszka WIESZCZEK-KORDUS (POL) v Buse TOSUN (TUR)
Pr B - Sara DOSHO (JPN) v Alina MAKHYNIA (UKR)

Round of 16
Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) v Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)
CHEN Wei-ling (TPE) v OCHIRBAT Nasanburmaa (MGL)
Maria ACOSTA (VEN) v Enas AHMED (EGY)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR) v Gilda DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)

ZHOU Feng (CHN) v Aline FOCKEN (GER)
Signe STORE (NOR) v Jenny FRANSSON (SWE)
Hannah REUBEN (NGR) v Dorothy YEATS (CAN)
Winner A v Winner B