#WrestleBelgrade

Makhmudov becomes first male Kyrgyz world champion

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 11) -- A year ago, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) came just short of becoming his country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in any sport. On Sunday night, he never let his opponent come close to preventing him from becoming its first male world champion in wrestling.

Makhmudov emerged from a stacked Greco-Roman 77kg weight class to win the gold medal with a one-sided 8-0 technical fall over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) on the first night of finals at the World Championships in Belgrade.

"I am very happy to get this opportunity to win the first Greco-Roman gold for the Kyrgyz people," Makhmudov said. "I dedicate this victory to my Kyrgyzstan."

The host country won two of the three other Greco-Roman golds at stake on Sunday, with Georgian-born Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) successfully defending his title at 87kg, and Iranian-born Ali ARSALAN (SRB) winning the 72kg in his first appearance at senior worlds.

European champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) capped off about as dominant a tournament as a wrestler can have by storming to 55kg gold with his fourth straight technical fall without conceding a point.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) uses a four-point exposure to win against Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 23-year-old Makhmudov, the silver medalist at last year's Tokyo Olympics, threw caution to the wind in scoring a pair of bold 4-point moves to blow away Levai in 2:06 of the final.

Makhmudov started with a daring back suplex with a headlock grip that put Levai straight to his back. When the Hungarian fought out of the predicament to his stomach, Makhmudov moved to the front, applied a front headlock and flipped Levai backward for the winning move.

"Yesterday I said that I wanted to show what Kyrgyz wrestling school was capable of," Makhmudov said. "I think I have shown it. I took revenge. Last time I lost to that wrestler and now I took revenge."

Makhmudov has been making waves since he won the gold at the 2018 Asian Championships hosted by Kyrgyzstan, a triumph that he repeated in April in Mongolia.

Only a knee injury that caused him to miss all of 2019 kept him from more titles.

In 2019, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) beat him to the punch as Kyrgyzstan's first-ever world champion when she won the women's 62kg title in Nursultan. The country has had four male silver medalists, including Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) twice.

For Makhmudov, there are many others who share in the credit for his success.

"I know my family supports me a lot, thanks a lot to them, my coaches and my friends," he said. "And I would like to say something else. We have a coach Ulukbek Karacholokov, his father past away recently, and I would like to dedicate my victory to him because Ulukbek is one of the best coaches and thanks to his father for bringing up such a good son."

At the Tokyo Olympics, Makhmudov lost a heartbreaking 2-1 decision in the final to Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), with a second-period stepout providing the margin of victory. Still, the silver medal made him Kyrgyzstan's fifth Olympic medalist in history and a hero in the country.

"I know my country supports me a lot," he said. "We have a wrestling country. Everybody there loves wrestling and supports it. It gives me the energy to train, I always feel their support when I am on the mat even if they are not present in the wrestling hall."

Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) defended his 87kg world title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The Serbs in the finals could certainly hear the support of the partisan crowd in Stark Arena, particularly when Datunashvili ended the day's festivities with a thrilling 6-2 victory over Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) in the final match of the night.

Bisultanov was looking to become his country's first-ever world champion but immediately fell into a 4-point hole when Datunashvili caught him with a nifty arm throw about one minute into the match.

"I had some tactics but I got the opportunity to get the throw and I did and I got four points," Datunashvili said.

In the second period, Bisultanov received a passivity point, but was unable to turn Datunashvili from par terre. The Serb then added a go-behind takedown to pad his lead, and was untroubled when he gave up a stepout.

"He is a young guy, he will get the gold later," Datunashvili said. "Maybe after three years he can beat me."

Datunashvili has been competing for Serbia since 2020 and appeared for the first time at the Olympics for his adopted country in Tokyo, where he took home a bronze medal. He also won the European title that year.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB)Ali ARSALAN (SRB) defeated Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) 4-3 in the 63kg final. (Photo: Martin Gabor)

In a clash between the European bronze medalists in the 72kg final, Arsalan was trailing 4-3 when he slammed Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) backward to the mat for 4 points, giving him a 7-4 victory and making him the fourth world champion in Serbia's young history.

Arsalan, a 2017 Asian bronze medalist for Iran, scored with a gut wrench from par terre to lead 3-0 going into the second period. But Ganizade tied the match with a passivity point and 2-point penalty, then went ahead 4-3 with a stepout.

"This is what I dreamt of and now I have changed that dream into fact," Arsalan said. "You don’t know the struggles to reach here. This is what it means to be a world champion. For all in Iran and Serbia who supported me, thank you."

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) blanked Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) 8-0 in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 55kg, Azizli maintained his domination over Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), pummeling the 2019 world champion with an 8-0 technical fall to regain the world title he won in 2018.

Azizli, who had to settle for bronze medals in 2019 and 2021, scored an early stepout, then was put on top in par terre. That proved the beginning of the end for Tsurtsumia, also a bronze medalist last year. After a 2-point penalty, Azizli fired off two consecutive gut wrenches to end the match in 2:06.

"The Georgian wrestler is also a world champion, he was in 2019 and I was the world champion before him," Azizli said. "The match was great, thank God I won."

According to Azizli, he has now beaten Tsurtsumia nine consecutive times. Even so, he was not going to take his opponent lightly.

"This is wrestling," Azizli said. "Anything could happen. Every world championship I had a medal. But not always I was able to win."

Yusu BASAR (TUR)Yunus BASAR (TUR) won the bronze medal at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Turkey came away with three bronze medals after victories by Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg, Yunus BASAR (TUR) at 77kg and Ali CENGIZ (TUR) at 87kg.

Can, a 2020 European bronze medalist, eked out a 3-3 win on last-point criteria over Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), scoring a 2-point throw in the second period. Andrii KULYK (UKR) won the other 72kg bronze with a 4-3 win over Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA).

Basar, who won a second straight European silver medal this year, held on for a 4-1 victory over former world champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), a two-time Olympic medalist who was aiming for his first world medal since 2018.

European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), the 72kg champion a year ago in Oslo, capped a busy day by defeating Viktor NEMES (SRB) 7-1 to take home the other 77kg bronze.

Amoyan, who lost a close 3-3 decision to Levai in the opening qualification match on Saturday, had to win three repechage matches.

At 87kg, Cengiz scored 4 points with a front lift in the second period to defeat two-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) 7-1. The other bronze was won by David LOSONCZI (HUN), a 6-2 winner over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE).

At 55kg, Asian champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN), who had to beat 2021 world champion Ken  MATSUI (JPN) just to make the Japanese team, assured he would not leave Belgrade empty-handed when he defeated Max NOWRY (USA) 7-0. Shiotani opened with a 4-point arm throw, then added a stepout and a defensive takedown, all in the first period.

Asian bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) picked up the other 55kg bronze by rallying from a 5-0 deficit, scoring a 4-point throw among nine second-period points to defeat Asian silver medalist Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 9-5.

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) entered the 97kg final after beating defending champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI). (Photo : UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aleksanyan returns to 97kg final by dethroning Saravi

In semifinal action in four other weight classes earlier in the session, Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) earned a shot at a fourth world title and first since 2017 when he defeated reigning world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) 3-1 at 97kg.

Aleksanyan, scored a gut wrench during his turn in par terre to defeat rising star Saravi, a bronze medalist at last year's Tokyo Olympics and set up a final with European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL).

Milov spotted Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) a 3-0 lead in the other semifinal but came alive in the second period when put in the par terre. First a classic gut wrench, then a 4-point throw to the back that set up a fall at 4:35.

Aleksanyan, who won a third career Olympic medal when he took the silver in Tokyo, has already assured himself of a sixth career world medal -- Milov is hoping to make it a third silver for the Armenian star.

Host Serbia had another good night, putting two of its wrestlers into the finals to match its results from the opening night. Sebastian NAD (SRB) will be going for the gold at 63kg and Mate NEMES (SRB), Viktor's twin brother, will follow at 67kg.

Nad, a 2019 European U23 silver medalist who is having a breakout tournament, scored a creative exposure from par terre in posting a 5-0 victory over European silver medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE).

In Monday's final, Nad will try to ensure that Leri ABULADZE (GEO) leaves the World Championships with a silver medal for the second year in a row.

Abuladze, this year's European champion, scored a first-period stepout that proved the difference in a 2-1 win over 2019 world bronze medalist Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI).

Nemes, the other world bronze medalist in 2019, defeated a formidable Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) 5-2 in the semifinals. After trading first-period takedowns, Nemes received a passivity point, then got 2 for a penalty to clinch the victory.

For his efforts, Nemes gets a shot at the reigning world and Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), who posted an unusual technical fall over Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO).

Geraei made the unusual choice of challenging a call in which he scored the points, but it paid off by giving him even more than he expected for an 8-0 technical fall.

From the par terre, Geraei lifted up Khetsuriani and dumped him onto his back. The original call was for 4, but Geraei insisted that his coach hit the challenge button, saying his opponent should also be assessed a leg penalty. He not only got the 2-point penalty but the throw was upgraded to 5 points, giving him the victory at 2:02.

Ironically, another semifinal also ended in a technical fall on a challenge call, but that one went against the one lodging the protest.

At 82kg, Asian silver medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) hit a 4-point throw to take a 7-0 lead against Tamas LEVAI (HUN), who decided to take a chance and claim that the Uzbek used his legs. The judges didn't agree and that gave Berdimuratov the 8-0 victory at 2:23, denying a second Levai brother a place in the finals.

In the final, Berdimuratov will face last year's silver medalist Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), who hit a 4-point throw at the edge in the second period to defeat Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) 5-1.

Day 3 will see the start of competition in the final two Greco weight classes, 60kg and 130kg, as well as two women's divisions, 55kg and 62kg.

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Day 2 Greco-Roman Results

55kg (18 entries)
Gold - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) by TF, 8-0, 2:06

Bronze - Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) df. Max NOWRY (USA), 7-0
Bronze - Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) df. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 9-5

63kg (30 entries)
Semifinal - Sebastian NAD (SRB) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 5-0
Semifinal - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI), 2-1

67kg (30 entries)
Semifinal - Mate NEMES (SRB) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 5-2
Semifinal - Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) by TF, 8-0, 2:02

72kg (25 entries)
Gold - Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE), 7-4

Bronze - Andrii KULYK (UKR) df. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), 4-3
Bronze - Selcuk CAN (TUR) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), 3-3

77kg (33 entries)
Gold - Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 2:06

Bronze - Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Viktor NEMES (SRB), 7-1
Bronze - Yunus BASAR (TUR) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 4-1

82kg (25 entries)
Semifinal - Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 2:23
Semifinal - Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), 5-1

87kg (30 entries)
Gold - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), 6-2

Bronze - David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), 6-2
Bronze - Ali CENGIZ (TUR) df. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-1

97kg (29 entries)
Semifinal - Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) by Fall, 4:35 (7-3)
Semifinal - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), 3-1

#WrestleBelgrade

Women’s Preview: Star-studded Japan juggernaut set for medal feast

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 11) -- After both secured their places on Japan's team to the World Championships, Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) presented Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), a friend from her junior days, with a matching T-shirt emblazoned with "PARIS".

The action next week will take place on the mats in the Belgrade Stark Arena, but thoughts of the French capital will be on the minds of the wrestlers as they battle for the first qualifying places for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The World Championships offers 90 spots for the Paris Games, 30 in each style. The four medal winners in an Olympic weight class along with the winner of the playoff between bronze-medal bout losers will receive a quota for their respective National Olympic Committees.

Given the gruelling process that they had to go through just to make it to Belgrade -- in which three of Japan's four gold medalists in women's wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics fell by the wayside -- the Japanese wrestlers in the Olympic weight classes are determined to secure their tickets to Paris now.

The Japan federation has decreed that a wrestler winning a medal in an Olympic weight class will also automatically fill that spot in Paris without any playoff. The last thing any of them want to do is give a rival another chance, as the saga of Yui SUSAKI (JPN) remains proof-positive of how that can backfire.

Susaki, the Tokyo 2021 gold medalist and defending world champion at 50kg, and Fujinami, looking to regain the world title she won at 53kg in 2021 but abdicated due to injury, lead what is arguably the strongest-ever Japanese women's contingent at a senior World Championships.

Add in the four non-Olympic weight classes, which include two world champions from 2022 and a two-time former champion, and is not too far a stretch to see a Japanese on every podium, with perhaps as many as eight on the top step.

That's not to say it will be easy for any of them. Veterans with proven track records like Mariya STADNIK (AZE), Helen MAROULIS (USA), Irina RINGACI (MDA), Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Adeline GRAY (USA) will be aiming to derail the Japanese juggernaut and add to their own formidable lists of laurels.

Naturally, the emergence of new young stars can't be discounted, such as was seen in 2022 with powerful teenager Amit ELOR (USA).

Here's a look at the ones to watch in each weight class:

50kg
There is no sure thing in wrestling, but Yui SUSAKI (JPN) may be about as close as you can get at this tournament. Susaki, who followed up her victory at the Tokyo Olympics by capturing a third world title last year in Belgrade, has still never lost to a non-Japanese opponent.

And the 24-year-old will be laser-focused not to slip up as she pursues her goal of a second straight Olympic gold. It was well documented how her Olympic dreams had seemed all but over when she lost out to Yuki IRIE (JPN) for a place at the 2019 World Championships, but was given new life when Irie failed to medal in Nur-Sultan. She never again wants to place her fate in the hands of others.

After taking a break after Tokyo, Susaki added both the world senior and U23 golds in 2022, making her the first-ever to achieve the Golden Grand Slam, comprised of the four world age group titles and the Olympic gold. Earlier this year, she picked up the title at the Ranking Series Zagreb Open to assure herself of the top seed in Belgrade.

The three other medalists from last year's worlds in Belgrade are back -- silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) and bronze medalists Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) and Anna LUKASIAK (POL). But Susaki's most dangerous threat could come from ageless Mariya STADNIK (AZE), the 35-year-old four-time Olympic medalist who has the experience to find a way to pierce the Japanese star's armor.

Stadnik, who along with Hildebrandt was a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, captured her eighth career European title in April. She missed a clash with Susaki in Zagreb when she defaulted their semifinal match due to injury. The two have met twice, both times in a final in 2018, with Susaki winning 2-2 at the Klippan Lady Open and 10-0 at the World Championships.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) is coming into the World Championship on a 122-match winning streak. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

53kg
If there is a way to defeat Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), no one on the planet has been able to figure it out since she was in junior high school. The 19-year-old collegian will be putting a 122-match winning streak -- which includes a victory by fall over Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) in a long-awaited showdown in June -- on the line in Belgrade with the express purpose of regaining the world title she won in 2021 and securing a spot for the Paris Olympics.

Fujinami missed last year's worlds due to a foot injury (and the world U23 a month later because of knee trouble), but she has since been healthy and as invincible as ever. She started the year off with a bang, winning the Zagreb Open, Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov International and Asian Championships in consecutive months -- 13 victories, all by fall or technical fall without conceding a point.

"Last year, I didn't listen to my body," Fujinami told the Japan media. "The feeling that all I had to do was put on a 'last spurt' got bigger, and that led to injuries. Now I'm going through the final prepping, but I'm listening closely to my body."

Dominique PARRISH (USA), who won the gold last year in Fujinami's absence, is back, as well as bronze medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE). Others who could do some damage are 2017 world champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN), world silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) and 2021 world bronze medalist Samantha STEWART (CAN).

A pair of European champions are also in the field in Jonna MALGREN (SWE) and Andreea ANA (ROU), the latter of whom has moved down to the Olympic weight from 55kg.

The wrestler that most intrigues Fujinami is Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), this year's Asian champion at 55kg. "I have never faced a Chinese wrestler in my life," said Fujinami, who did not cross paths with China's entry at the Asian Championships. "It's not that there will be no pressure. But the tournament atmosphere is different overseas, which gets me excited."

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) is a world champion from 2019 at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

55kg
This non-Olympic weight class features a pair of former world champions in Haruna OKUNO (JPN) and Jaccara WINCHESTER (USA). Okuno had failed to dislodge Fujinami at 53kg and won a playoff for the consolation prize of a ticket to Belgrade at 55kg.

Okuno won a world gold at 55kg in 2017, then dropped down to 53kg and won there the next year. But when the process began for qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, she played second fiddle to Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) (now SHIDOCHI) at 53kg and never got back to the senior worlds. Then Fujinami emerged and knocked them both out.

Okuno went into a bit of a funk after missing out on Tokyo, but has since regrouped mentally, enough to defeat Shidochi last December for the first time in 10 career meetings. Two months earlier, she captured a third world U23 title.

Winchester triumphed at 55kg the last time the worlds were serving as the initial Olympic qualifier in 2019. After that, she made the U.S. Olympic team at 53kg, but had to settle for fifth place in Tokyo, the same result she would get at the 2022 worlds.

But the 30-year-old got her year off to a good start with victories at international tournaments in Alexandria and Budapest.

Others to watch will be world bronze medalist Karla GODINEZ (CAN), who was second to Winchester in Budapest; 2021 world 53kg bronze medalist Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL); European silver medalist Erika BOGNAR (HUN); Asian silver medalist Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) and world U20 champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN).

57kg
In arguably the most stacked women's weight class, the de facto gold-medal match could come in the semifinals. If the seedings go to form, that would be where defending champion and No. 3 seed Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and former Olympic gold medalist and No. 2 seed Helen MAROULIS (USA) would meet in a rematch of the 2022 final.

Sakurai and Maroulis both won world titles in 2021, the former at 55kg and the latter at 57kg. Sakurai made the move up to the Olympic weight last year and never missed a beat, striking gold at 57kg in Belgrade. That was all in the absence of Tokyo Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) (now KINJO), who took extended time off to get married and give birth to her first child.

To get back to Belgrade, the 22-year-old Sakurai beat Kinjo by technical fall in their only meeting in one of Japan's world qualifying tournaments. But her biggest hurdle turned out to be Sae NANJO (JPN). Sakurai twice came within seconds of missing out on a ticket to Belgrade, but each time pulled off last-second victories over Nanjo. By comparison, Maroulis defeated Nanjo 6-4 in the world semifinals in 2021.

Maroulis made a name for herself in Japan by becoming the conqueror of the legendary Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and preventing her from becoming a four-time Olympic champion with a stunning win in the final at the 2016 Rio Games. She went through hard times battling concussion after that triumph, but came back strong with a full collection of global medals in the two-year span in 2021-22. Maroulis will turn 33 on September 19, the day of the qualification rounds and semifinals at 57kg.

The two favorites will have no dearth of competition, most noticeably from the dangerous Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), the 2022 world champion and this year's European gold medalist at 59kg who has dropped into the 57kg mix. In her first foray at 57kg since placing seventh at the Tokyo Olympics, Nichita struck gold at the Budapest international tournament in July.

The two others who made the podium in Tokyo, silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) and bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), are also among the preliminary entries, while Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) comes in as the top seed on the strength of her third-place finish last year and European title this year.

Others to watch are veteran Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), who will try for her fourth world medal and first since 2019; SARITA (UWW), a 2021 world bronze medalist at 59kg; Anhelina LYSAK (POL), a bronze medalist last year; and Kexin HONG (CHN), the runner-up to Nichita in Budapest.

Yulia TKACH (UKR)Yulia TKACH (UKR), a world champion at 63kg in 2014, is going for her second world title at 59kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

59kg
With the top names funnelling either up or down into the Olympic weight classes, the door is open at 59kg for a less-heralded wrestler to come away with a first world title, or, in the case of veteran Yulia TKACH (UKR), her first in a decade.

Sae NANJO (JPN), a 2021 world bronze medalist at 57kg who failed to make Japan's team at that weight, had to defeat Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) among three wins in a playoff just to get to Belgrade at the non-Olympic weight.

Nanjo, the 2022 world U23 champion and Asian champion this year at 57kg, fought back from a six-point deficit to defeat Kinjo with a dramatic 6-6 victory, and she will be determined not to squader such a moment by slipping up in Belgrade.

The 34-year-old Tkach won her only world title in 2014, and the last of her four world medals in 2018. But the three-time Olympian has shown this year she can still be competitive, winning Ranking Series events in Alexandria and Bishkek and placing second at the European Championships.

Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) is the lone returning medalist in the weight class, having won a bronze last year. Others who could figure in the medal chase are two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 2021 world U23 bronze medalist Krystsina SAZYKINA (AIN) and Qi ZHANG (CHN), a bronze medalist this year in both Zagreb and Budapest.

62kg
Just what Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) needs: another physically tough Japanese to contend with. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) is the latest wrestler from her country standing between Tynybekova and a third career world gold, and given what it took for Motoki to get to Belgrade, you can bet she will battling tooth and nail.

Motoki, a bronze medalist last year at 59kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight class, had to defeat both the Olympic champion (Yukako KAWAI (JPN)) and the defending world champion (Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)) in epic battles to secure the 62kg spot on Japan's team.

Both Kawai and Ozaki had been nemeses of Tynybekova in recent years, with wins and losses on both sides on the world and continental levels. How Motoki fares should the two meet for the first time poses one of the intriguing questions of the tournament.

Motoki, the 2022 world U20 champion at 59kg, picked up some international experience at the heavier weight by winning the Zagreb Open in February, beating Grace BULLEN (NOR) 7-0 in the final. Bullen has also moved up from 59kg, where she was the world runner-up last year to Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who had beaten Motoki in the semifinals.

Motoki has some strong incentives to take the gold and earn the ticket to Paris. First, she wants to become an Olympian like her father Yasutoshi, who competed in Greco-Roman at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Another is to catch up to a pair of Ikuei University teammates when it comes to success on the world stage.

Ikuei's Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is the defending champion at 57kg, while Ami ISHI (JPN) was the silver medalist last year at 68kg. "It would be amazing if the three of us go to the Olympics," Motoki told the Japanese media. "Last year, I finished the lowest. This year, I want to catch up to other two and all three of us win championships."

Bullen has also made a smooth adjustment to 62kg, chalking up second-place finishes at the Zagreb Open, European Championships and Poland Open.

The list is long of other contenders, including Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), a bronze medalist a year ago and a two-time former Asian champion. This year, Luo scored a stunning 10-4 first-round win over Tynybekova in Zagreb, but Tynybekova avenged that loss three weeks later with a 3-2 win in the final in Alexandria.

There's also Kayla MIRACLE (USA), who won her second straight world silver medal in 2022, and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), who captured the European title this year.

Added to the mix are 2021 world 59kg champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), Poland Open champion Luisa NIEMENSCH (GER), Asian silver medalist and former world champ Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) and 2022 world 65kg bronze medalist Kriszta INCZE (ROU), leaving little room for error for the favorites.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) has moved up to 65kg after failing to make the Japan team at the Olympic weight of 62kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

65kg
The 65kg throne became open when 2022 champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) moved up to 68kg. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is the prohibitive favorite to keep the title in Japanese hands as she attempts to salvage her season after missing out at 62kg, in which she would have been the defending champion.

Ozaki lost out at 62kg to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), then -- given how nothing is ever easy when it comes to the Japanese women -- she needed to defeat Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in a playoff just for the consolation prize of a ticket to Belgrade at 65kg.

The 20-year-old Ozaki, a product of the JOC Elite Academy that produced Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), takes a 46-2 record against non-Japanese opponents into Belgrade. Both of the losses were to Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), whom she has also beaten twice.

Ozaki's disappointment this year follows one of incredible success in 2022, when she won the Asian title in April -- beating Tynybekova in the final -- then reeled off victories at the world U20, senior and U23 in consecutive months from August.

The threats to Ozaki in Belgrade appear to be few and far between, but the leading contenders are European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) and Macey KILTY (USA), who seems to have a penchant for silver. The American finished second at the world U20 and U23 in 2019, and in Krasnoyarsk and Istanbul in 2022.

Oksana KUKHTA HERHEL (UKR), a world champion in 2015, will see if she has enough left in the tank to get back onto the medal podium.

Ami ISHII (JPN)Ami ISHII (JPN) is the returning silver medalist at 68kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

68kg
With the departure of Olympic and world champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) to the professional wrestling ring, there will be a new face topping the medal podium at 68kg. Who that will be is anyone's guess, and there is no shortage of possibilities.

The leading candidate would have to be the silver medalist from a year ago, Ami ISHII (JPN), who also won the world U20 title in 2022 and picked up the senior Asian crown this year. Her loss in the 2022 final to Mensah Stock was the lone defeat of her career to a non-Japanese opponent dating back to 2018.

In Japan's grueling qualifying process, the 20-year-old Ishii turned back the challenges of world 65kg champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) and a desperation attempt from Tokyo Olympic 62kg gold medalist Yukako KAWAI (JPN).

Leading the bids to deny Ishii a gold medal will be Irina RINGACI (MDA), a bronze medalist last year who won the world 65kg title in 2021. That victory in Oslo, where she beat Morikawa in the final, made Ringaci the first-ever woman in Moldova history to win a world wrestling title.

This year, Ringaci finished third at the Zagreb Open, took the silver medal behind rival Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) at 65kg at the European Championships, and most recently won the 65kg title at an international tournament in Budapest.

Two 2022 medalists in other weight classes have joined the 68kg fray. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), who won the gold in Zagreb this year, will be looking to improve on her bronze medal at 65kg and secure an Olympic berth for the host country in Paris, while Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) has moved down from 72kg, in which she won a bronze last year and the European title in April.

There will also be two Olympic medalists on hand, Tokyo silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) and bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ). Zhumanazarova won the world gold in 2021 by injury default in the final over Rin MIYAGI (JPN), who had stunned Mensah Stock with a victory by fall in the semifinals. Ishii defeated Zhumanazarova 6-2 in the semifinals of the Asian Championships in April en route to the gold.

Two-time world medalist Feng ZHOU (CHN), who turns 30 on September 12, has been in good form this year, finishing third at the Asian Championships and striking gold in Bishkek and Budapest. She will be aiming for her first world medal since 2018.

Others to keep an eye on are European champion Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) and Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), the winner at the Poland Open and runner-up in Zagreb.

72kg
Is there anyone who can stop the human bulldozer better known as Amit ELOR (USA)? Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) feels she is up to the task, even though it meant going up two weight classes and facing what she deferentially termed "monsters."

The 19-year-old Elor, who became the youngest American world champion in history when she captured the 72kg title last year in Belgrade, is the clear favorite as she returns to the Serbian capital in a bid for a repeat.

Elor, who takes an unofficial 30-1 career record in international matches into the tournament, could hardly have been more dominant in 2022, winning the world U20, senior and U23 titles in succession. Add in her cadet (U17) title from the previous year, and she completed the Grand Slam of age group titles while still a teenager.

This year has seen no letdown, as the former judoka swept to the Pan American and world U20 titles without conceding a point.

The lone loss of Alor's career came at the 2019 World U17 Championships, a 3-1 decision to Honoka NAKAI (JPN). Now another Japanese is aiming for the American, and one with the credentials -- at least on paper -- to pull it off.

Morikawa, last year's world 65kg champion after finishing second in 2021, had moved up to 68kg in the Olympic year but failed to oust Ami ISHII (JPN). Intent on getting to Belgrade somehow -- but not so enthusiastic about cutting the weight she had just put on -- she opted to go up to 72kg, where she prevailed in a playoff for the world team spot.

Also vying for the medals will be Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), who won her second straight world silver last year in Belgrade and picked up her third Asian title this year, world U23 68kg champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) and world U20 silver medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ).

Ilana KRATYSH (ISR), making her seventh appearance at the World Championships dating back to 2011, has perhaps her best chance to become the first-ever Israeli to medal in women's wrestling. The 33-year-old finished fifth at the European Championships.

76kg
She's ba-a-a-a-ck. Two years after winning a U.S. record sixth world title and a little more than a year after giving birth to twins, Adeline GRAY (USA) will be in Belgrade aiming to add more gold to her luminous collection.

When last seen, Gray had lost a heartbreaking final at the Tokyo Olympics to longtime friend and foe Aline FOCKEN (GER), then bounced back two months later and captured the world title in Oslo to break a tie with Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) for most-ever won by an American.

Gray gave birth to twins on July 23, 2022, and returned to training in January. She lost to teenager Kennedy BLADES (USA) at the U.S. Open in April, but came back to beat her in the U.S. world team trials in June.

Gray will see some familiar faces and some new ones as she begins a quest into unchartered waters. As she said after the trials, "There’s pieces of wrestling that you have to put together. It’s just going to take me a little bit of time.”

Those most capable of derailing the Gray Express would be 2022 silver medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) and bronze medalists Epp MAE (EST) and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), as well as Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Hamza already has world silver and bronze medals -- the latter won in Oslo in 2021 which made her the first-ever Egyptian woman to win a world medal -- and would love nothing more than to finish the collection with a gold. She will have to step up her game, however, having finished no higher than seventh this year in Zagreb, Alexandria and Budapest.

Mae, a bronze medalist last year, gave Gray a tough fight in the 2021 final, leading 4-2 in the final minute before the American scored a takedown to go ahead on criteria then worked Mae over for a fall with two seconds remaining. Mae also lost to Gray in the 2014 and 2018 world finals, and she would relish the chance to finally come out on top.

Kagami, the 2022 Asian runner-up to Medet Kyzy who will turn 22 on September 14, is aiming to become Japan's first world champion in the heaviest women's weight class since Kyoko HAMAGUCHI (JPN) in 2003. Her season was delayed after undergoing shoulder surgery in January, but she seems to have fully recovered.

Conversely, Medet Kyzy has been quite busy, and successful, this season. The 2021 world bronze medalist finished second in Zagreb, third in Alexandria, second at the Asian Championships and won the Ranking Series event as the hometown favorite in Bishkek.

Others with the potential to shake things up are Milaimys MARIN (CUB), Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR).

The World Championships run from September 16 to 24 with Women’s Wrestling scheduled on September 18, 19 and 20. The action will be live on UWW+ around the world and on FloSports in the U.S.