rankings

Vuc Ascends to No.1 in Women's World Rankings, 9 Retain No.1 Ranking

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (July 2) -- Alina VUC (ROU) ascends to No.1 at 50kg in the July 2018 Ranking Series for women's wrestling after winning gold at the China Open.

Vuc, a European silver medalist and Klippan Lady Open bronze medalist, won her China Open gold medal with a 1-0 victory over China's ZHU Jiang.

Vuc is the lone new No. 1 in this month's rankings for women's wrestling. 

Other No.1-ranked wrestlers include Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) at 53kg, Bediha GUN (TUR) at 55kg, Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) at 57kg, Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) at 59kg, Kayla MIRACLE (USA) at 62kg, Petra OLLI (FIN) at 65kg, Laura SKUJINA (LAT) at 68kg, Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) at 72kg and Adeline GRAY (USA) at 76kg. 

USA has the most top-ranked women's wrestlers with three. Hildebrandt and Gray won gold medals at the Pan American Championships, while Miracle claimed a bronze. 

Bediha GUN (55kg) and Elif YESILIRMAK (59kg) give Turkey a pair of No.1-ranked wrestlers. 

Gun, a 2016 Olympian, was a silver medalist at the Klippan Lady Open and a bronze medalist at the European Championships. 


Yesilirmak, a multiple-time world medalist, won a gold medal at the European Championships and a bronze medal at the Klippan Lady Open.

The 2018 season is the first in which United World Wrestling is utilizing an objective ranking system. The points acquired at continental championships and select rankings series will determine the top four seeded athletes at the 2018 World Championships in October held in Budapest.
 
For more on the Ranking Series format, be sure to check out this article

View all the rankings on United World Wrestling's homepage.

50kg
1. Alina VUC (ROU) // 51 Points
2. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) // 43 Points
3. Chun LEI (CHN) // 29 Points
4. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) // 26 Points
5. Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RUS) // 24 Points

53kg
1. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) // 38 Points
2. Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) // 34 Points
3. Aysun ERGE (TUR) // 33 Points
4. Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) // 31 Points
5. Mercedesz DENES (HUN) // 30 Points

55kg
1. Bediha GUN (TUR) // 33 Points
2. Hyemin OH (KOR) // 27 Points
3. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) // 23 Points
4. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) // 22 Points
5. Nazgul NURAKHAN (KAZ) // 21 Points

57kg
1. Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) // 41 Points
2. Laura MERTENS (GER) // 31 Points
3. Xingru PEI (CHN) // 30 Points
4. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) // 27 Points
5. Tetyana KIT (UKR) // 27 Points

59kg
1. Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) // 33 Points
2. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) // 29 Points
3. Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) // 28 Points
4. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) // 25 Points
5. Ningning RONG (CHN) // 22 Points

62kg
1. Kayla MIRACLE (USA) // 35 Points
2. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) // 33 Points
3. Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) // 28 Points
4. Luzie MANZKE (GER) // 28 Points
5. Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL) // 23 Points

65kg
1. Petra OLLI (FIN) // 41 Points
2. Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) // 33 Points
3. Forrest MOLINARI (USA) // 26 Points
4. Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) // 25 Points
5. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) // 23 Points

68kg
1. Laura SKUJINA (LAT) // 31 Points
2. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) // 30 Points
3. Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) // 30 Points
4. Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) // 25 Points
5. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) // 23 Points

72kg
1. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) // 36 Points
2. Alexandra nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) // 26 Points
3. Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS) // 24 Points
4. Masako FURUICHI (JPN) // 23 Points
5. Yue HAN (CHN) // 18 Points

76kg
1. Adeline GRAY (USA) // 40 Points
2. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) // 38 Points
3. Epp MAE (EST) // 30 Points
4. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) // 28 Points
5. Eunju HWANG (KOR) // 25 Points

#development

South Africa Advances National Wrestling System with DNSS Phase 2

By United World Wrestling Press

PRETORIA, South Africa (April 8) -- South Africa has reached a decisive milestone in its long-term wrestling development strategy with the successful implementation of Phase 2 of the Development of National Sport System (DNSS) programme, delivered in collaboration with United World Wrestling (UWW) and supported by Olympic Solidarity.

Following the diagnostic and mapping phase conducted earlier, Phase 2 marks a clear transition from analysis to structured implementation, laying the foundation for a sustainable and internationally aligned wrestling system.

Led by UWW Development Officer Vincent AKA, in close cooperation with the South African Wrestling Federation (SAWF), the National Head Coach, Markus DEKKER and Provincial Coordinators, the programme was deployed across multiple provinces through a structured 10-day intervention from March 2 to 13. 

Activities were conducted in key locations including:

· LPWA (Ion Bachu)
· CGWA (Ruiter)
· NGWA (Menlo Park Hall)
· Frank Joubert Tournament (Menlo Park Hall)

This nationwide approach ensured direct engagement with provincial structures, strengthening alignment between national leadership and local associations while promoting inclusive development across the country.

From Talent Identification to System Building

Unlike traditional training camps, DNSS Phase 2 focused on identifying talent and building long-term development systems. Wrestlers and coaches from all age categories -- U13, U15, U17, U20, and Senior -- were actively involved, ensuring a complete pathway approach.

Provincial visits and stakeholder meetings played a key role in assessing facilities and operational structures, strengthening coordination between SAWF and provinces, and identifying emerging wrestlers.

Building Athlete Pipeline

A training camp for different provinces brought together wrestler to consolidate talent identified during Phase 1 and introduce standardized training methodologies.

The training camp included technical sessions, physical conditioning, match simulations and wrestling. The initiative contributed to the creation of an updated national prospect and the foundation of a structured athlete monitoring system.

South Africa

Beach Wrestling Gains Momentum

As part of the DNSS activities, a Beach Wrestling training session in Roodepoort highlighted the programme’s expanding impact.

During the visit, Aka led a specialized session, sharing advanced technical insights adapted to beach wrestling. It included stance and balance adjustments, grip and control techniques, and movement adaptation on sand.

The training programme comes at a crucial time, as South African athletes prepare for African Beach Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt and other international tournaments.