Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! December 10, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing Russia's Ivan Yarygin qualification process. Also reviewing results from the Alans and Haparanda Cup.  

1. Dzambolat Tedeev Clarifies 2019 Ivan Yarygin Qualification Process
Dzambolat Tedeev, the head freestyle wrestling coach for the Russian Federation, clarified the qualification process for January’s Ivan Yarygin, which takes place in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Only three Russian wrestlers will qualify for the "Toughest Tournament in the World." Each of the 2018 world team members, along with the Alans and Mindiashvili winners will each punch their ticket to the Ivan Yarygin. 

In an interview with WRESTRUS.RU’s correspondent, Tigran Avanian, Tedeev said, “The first members of the Russian national team, mainly those who wrestled in Budapest, can still compete in the Alans. They already have an admission to Yarygin, but only in the weight in which they wrestled in Budapest.” Meaning the below world team members have qualified at the following weights.

57kg - Zaur UGUEV
61kg - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV 
65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV 
70kg - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV 
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV 
79kg - Ahmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV 
86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV
92kg-  Batyrbek TSAKULOV
97kg - Abdulrashid SADULAEV 
125kg -  Anzor HIZRIEV

In order to provide further clarification, coach Tedeev  continued by saying, “If an athlete decides to change his weight category, he needs to establish himself in the new weight, which means he’ll have to win either the Alans or the Mindiashvili tournament, and only then he will be able to wrestle in Krasnoyarsk."


70kg Alans champion, David BAEV (RUS) Photo by Marion Stein. 

2. Vladikavkaz Hosts Yarygin Qualification Tournament, the Alans 
Loads of fans showed up to the sold-out Sports Center Arena in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, for one of the country’s most important tournaments, the Alans. As mentioned above, the Alans served as a qualification for the January’s Ivan Yarygin in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. 

Arguably, the most impressive gold medal winner was the 70kg champion, David BAEV (RUS). Baev, the two-time age-level world champion, and 2018 U23 world runner-up knocked off back-to-back- world medalists on his run to the top of the podium. In the semifinals, Baev defeated two-time world medalist, James GREEN (USA), 8-6. He followed that up with a 5-3 finals win over 2016 world champion, Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS). 

Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the United State each had wrestlers medal, but it was the Russian Federation who won nine of ten possible gold medals. The lone non-Russian champion was reigning two-time world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) who won the 125kg gold medal over Iran's Jaber SADEGHZADEH. 

RESULTS 
57kg
GOLD - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
SILVER - Khuresh Ool DONDUK OOL (RUS) 
BRONZE - Ramiz AMZATOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Ibragim ABDURAKHMANOV (RUS) 

61kg 
GOLD - Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) 
BRONZE - Iulian GERGENOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) 

65kg 
GOLD - Muslim SAIDULAEV (RUS)
SILVER - Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS)
BRONZE – Nachyn KUULAR (RUS)
BRONZE – Alan GOGAEV (RUS)

70kg 
GOLD - David BAEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS)
BRONZE - James Malcolm GREEN (USA) 
BRONZE - Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) 

74kg 
GOLD - Timur BIZHOEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) 
BRONZE - Akhmed USMANOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) 

79kg 
GOLD - Gadzhi NABIEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Atsamaz SANAKOEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Alan ZASEEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Khalil AMINOV (RUS)

86kg 
GOLD - Vladislav VALIEV (RUS)
SILVER - Magomedsharif BIIAKAEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Slavik NANIEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Soslan KTSOEV (RUS)

92kg
GOLD - Anzor URISHEV (RUS)
SILVER - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) 

97kg
GOLD - Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS)
SILVER - Shamil MUSAEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Zaynulla KURBANOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Igor OVSIANNIKOV (RUS)

125kg 
GOLD - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) 
SILVER - Jaber Taghi SADEGHZADEH (IRI) 
Mukhamagazi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Vitalii GOLOEV (RUS)

3. Tehran to Host 2018 World Wrestling Clubs Cup 

Tehran, Iran is set to host the fifth annual World Wrestling Clubs Cup on December 13-14. 

Last year, 16 World and Olympic medalists took part in the two-day competition, but it was Iran's Easy Pipe Kashan who edged defending champions from the United States, Titan Mercury, 6-4, while Setaregan Sari (IRI) downed Khimori (MGL) in the third-place dual.

One interesting note regarding this year's World Wrestling Clubs Cup, the United State's will not be sending a team to Tehran. Due to the World Championships being pushed back to October, the United States decided to rest their athletes and not send them to Iran. 

2017 Finals Results 
57kg - Reza ATARI (Easy Pipe) df. Thomas GILMAN (TMWC), 6-4 
61kg- Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (Easy Pipe) df. Alan WATERS (TMWC), 7-0
65kg- Farzad AMOUZAD KHALILI df. (Easy Pipe) Bernard FUTRELL (TMWC), 6-3
70kg- Mohammad NADERI (Easy Pipe) df. Franklin GOMEZ (TMWC), 2-2
74kg- Nazariy KULCHYTSKYY (TMWC) df. Hossein ELYASI (Easy Pipe), 5-4 
79kg- Kyle DAKE (TMWC) TF. Reza AFZALI (Easy Pipe), 12-0
86kg- David TAYLOR (TMWC) df. Alireza KARIMI (Easy Pipe), 3-1 
92kg- Hossein SHAHBAZI (Easy Pipe) df. Nickolas HEFLIN (Titan), 4-2
97kg- Kyle SNYDER (TMWC) TF. Vladislav BAITSAEV (Easy Pipe), 11-0
125kg - Geno PETRIASHVILI (Easy Pipe) df. Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (Titan), 6-5


Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS), 82kg Haparanda Cup champion. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

4. Russia Wins Quartet of Golds at 2018 Haparanda Cup
Over 60 wrestlers made the trip to Haparanda, Sweden to compete in the annual Haparanda Cup. Per usual, the Russian Federation was locked and loaded, winning four of the nine overall Haparanda Cup gold medals. 

The most notably gold medal came at 82kg where the Russian youngster Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS) competed in his first tournament since September when he captured the 2018 junior world title in Tampere, Finland. This was Komarov’s second junior world title, but his fourth overall age-level world title. He also won back-to-back cadet world titles in 2015 and 2016. 

Without a doubt, Komarov has the most impressive Greco-Roman resumes in recent memory. Since stepping on the international scene back in 2015, he’s entered 13 tournaments and has yet to face defeat at any of those 13 tournaments. 

In addition to his four age-level world and European titles, Komarov also has five senior-level tournament gold medals to his name. 

Russia also had a trio of other gold medalists. They were Yuri DENISOV (RUS), Ivan CHERNOV (RUS), and Maxim SAYARYAN (RUS). Russia was the only country to win more than one gold medal. Finland, Norway Sweden, Ukraine, and the United States were the remaining five nations who won a solo gold medal. 

RESULTS 
60 kg   
GOLD - Maksym LIU (UKR)
SILVER - Christoffer SVENSSON (SWE)
BRONZE - Roope MIETTUNEN (FIN)

63kg 
GOLD - Alexander BICA (SWE)
SILVER - Colton RUSHE (USA)

BRONZE - Raffaele MASI (USA)

67kg  
GOLD - Håvard JORGENSEN (NOR) 
SILVER - Jamel JOHNSON (USA)
BRONZE - Denis BOLUNOV (EST)
BRONZE - Serhii HRUSHYN (UKR)

72kg  
GOLD - Yuri DENISOV (RUS) 
SILVER - Akseli  KISALIJAT (FIN)
BRONZE - Ihor BYCHKOV (UKR)
BRONZE - Vladyslav KRAVCHENKO (UKR)

77kg  
GOLD - Ivan CHERNOV (RUS)
SILVER - Sakke PUROLAINEN (FIN) 
BRONZE - Pat SMITH (USA)
BRONZE - Roni PUROLAINEN (FIN)

82kg   
GOLD - Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS)
SILVER - Dmytro GARDUBEI (UKR)
BRONZE - John STEFANOWICZ (USA) 
BRONZE - Vitalii ANDRILOVYCH  (UKR)

87kg
GOLD - Rami HIETANIEMI (FIN) 
SILVER - Joe RAU (USA) 

BRONZE - Duguchiev MOVSAR (RUS)
BRONZE - Valentyn SHKLIARENKO (UKR) 

97kg 
GOLD – Maxim SAYARYAN (RUS)
SILVER - Billy RAAF (SWE)

BRONZE - Daniel MILLER (USA) 
BRONZE - Kalle PERSSON (SWE)

130kg 
GOLD - Trent OSNES (USA) 

5. United World Wrestling Yearly Awards to be Released Over Next Few Weeks 
As the 2018 calendar year comes to a close, it leaves an opportunity for the wrestling world to reflect on successes over the previous twelve months. In the next few weeks, United World Wrestling will be releasing their annual year-end awards. Like past year’s awards, this year’s awards will look at some of the best matches, athletes, and performances from 2018. 

If you have a favorite moment, match, or wrestler that you think should be included in our annual awards; please share your thoughts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1.Big Move Monday! 
2.  Flipping into the week like. 
3. Black and white photos from #BudaWrestle2018 
4. Steam coming off a young Indian wrestler 
5. Matcharshvili outscored his opponents 40-0 to win the 97kg U23 world title.

#WrestleBelgrade

Women's Wrestling seeds announced for 2022 World Championships

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 23) – With only 17 days left until the 2022 World Championships (September 10-18), United World Wrestling has released the tentative top eight women's wrestling seeds.

The point-based seeds were determined by a wrestler's participation and placement at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, 2021 World Championships, 2022 Continental Championships, 2022 Ranking Series events, and selected Regional Games.

Although it's highly unlikely that the brackets play out exactly how their seeded, but if the seeds were to hold through the finals in the top-eight seeded system, here's how the bracket will look leading up to the gold-medal match:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 vs. No. 8 (top side)
No. 4 vs. No. 5 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 7 (bottom side)
No. 3 vs. No. 6 (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 vs. No. 4 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 3 (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 vs. No. 2 

*National Federations were required to submit their world entries by last week but can still update them until 24 hours before the draws. This means these seeds and entries are subject to change.

50kg seeds:
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)
No. 2  Yui SUSAKI (JPN)
No. 3 Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU)
No. 5 Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
No. 6 Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
No. 7 Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
No. 8 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)

If seeds hold at 50kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. No. 8 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) (top side)
No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) vs. No. 5 Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) (top side)
No. 2  Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. No. 7 Mariya STADNIK (AZE) (bottom side)
No. 3 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) vs. No. 6 Madison PARKS (CAN) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) (top side)
No. 2  Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. No. 3 Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. No. 2 Yui SUSAKI (JPN)

Hildebrandt holds top seed at 50kg
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) holds the top spot in the stacked 50kg bracket featuring four seeded wrestlers with world finals experience -- two of which are on the opposite side from the American.

Hildebrandt finished on the podium at the Olympic Games and World Championships before winning golds at the Pan-American Championships and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event en route to grabbing the No. 1 spot. Fortunately, she's on opposite sides of the bracket from reigning Olympic champion No. 2 Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and four-time Olympic medalist No. 7 Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Hildebrandt will share the top side of the bracket with No. 8 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), No. 4 Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) and No. 5 Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL). The two-time world finalist will take on reigning European champion Demirhan in the quarterfinals, then will wrestle either two-time world silver medalist Vuc or Dolgorjav.

On the lower side, Susaki and Stadnik will meet in the quarterfinals in a rematch from the 2018 world finals and 2020 Tokyo Olympic semifinals. In those Budapest and Tokyo bouts, Susaki outscored Stadnik 21-0.

If Susaki picks up a third straight win over Stadnik, she'll meet the winner of No. 3 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) and No. 6 Madison PARKS (CAN).

53kg seeds:
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
No. 3 Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN)
No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
No. 5 Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE)
No. 6 Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
No. 7 Dominique Olivia PARRISH (USA)
No. 8 Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

If seeds hold at 53kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. No. 8 Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) (top side)
No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) vs. No. 5 Emma MALMGREN (SWE) (top side)
No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA) vs. No. 7 Dominique PARRISH (USA) (bottom side)
No. 3 Samantha STEWART (CAN) vs. No. 6 Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) (top side)
No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)vs. No. 3 Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)

Top-seeded Funjinami is riding a 103-match win streak in Belgrade 
Japan's 18-year-old phenom Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) headlines the seeds at 53kg. The reigning world champion heads into Belgrade riding a 103-match win streak and is looking to claim a second straight senior world title.

Fujinami will contend with veteran and two-time Olympian No. 8 Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in the quarterfinals. Then, barring a meltdown, she'll meet either No. 4 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) or reigning European champion No. 5 Emma MALMGREN (SWE) for a spot in the finals.

On the bottom half of the 53kg chart, No. 2 Iulia LEORDA (MDA) earned the second seed after her runner-up finish at last year's World Championships and back-to-back bronze-medal finishes at the Yasar Dogu and European Championships.

Leorda will have a tough quarterfinals match, as she's expected to take on reigning Pan-American champion No. 7 Dominique PARRISH (USA). If she can get past the American, she'll take a world bronze medalist in No. 3 Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) or No. 6 Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) in the semis.

Stewart is a reigning senior-level world bronze medalist, while Yetgil is a two-time U23 world bronze medal winner.

55kg seeds
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER)
No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) 
No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
No. 4 Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)
No. 5 Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL)
No. 6 Karla Lorena GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
No. 7 Sushma SHOKEEN (IND)
No. 8 Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)

If seeds hold at 55kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER) vs. No. 8 Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) (top side)
No. 4 Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) vs. No. 5 Roksana ZASINA (POL) (top side)
No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) vs. No. 7 Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) (bottom side)
No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) vs. No. 6 Karla GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER) vs. No. 4 Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA) (top side)
No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) vs. No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Nina HEMMER (GER) vs. No. 2 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)

Hemmer holds No. 1 seed at 55kg
Oslo world runner-up Nina HEMMER (GER) heads into the World Championships as the No. 1 seed at 55kg. In addition to her silver-medal finish at the World Championships, Hemmer also won the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event and finished in fourth place at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event.

Hemmer's quarterfinals opponent will be Bolat Turlykhanov Ranking Series champion No. 8 Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ). However, her semifinal road will be significantly more challenging as she expected to meet '19 world champion No. 4 Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) or No. 5 Roksana ZASINA (POL).

On the lower side of the chart, Ukraine's next big thing Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR), earned the second seed after her world bronze medal and European silver medal finish.

Khomenets' quarterfinal opponenet will be No. 7 Sushma SHOKEEN (IND). If the 19-year-old Ukrainian star wins that, she'll wrestle her European finals opponent No. 3 Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) or Pan-American gold medalist No. 6 Karla GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN).

57kg seeds: 
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA)
No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
No. 4 Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX)
No. 5 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
No. 6 Mansi MANSI (IND)
No. 7 Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR)
No. 8 Anhelina LYSAK (POL)

If seeds hold at 57kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA) vs. No. 8 Anhelina LYSAK (POL) (top side)
No. 4 Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) vs. No. 5 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) (top side)
No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. No. 7 Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) (bottom side)
No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) vs. No. 6 Mansi MANSI (IND) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA) vs. No. 4 Giullia RODRIGUES (BRA) (top side)
No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA) vs. No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)

Maroulis maintains top seed at 57kg
Helen MAROULIS (USA) nabbed the top seed at 57kg after winning world gold in Oslo and Olympic bronze in Tokyo last season. She also earned ranking points from her top-five finish at the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event.

Maroulis will have her hands full in the quarterfinals, as she'll wrestle against Poland's reigning U23 world champion No. 8 Anhelina LYSAK (POL). If the Rio Olympic champ wins that match, she'll compete against Mexico's first-ever women's wrestling Olympian No. 4 Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) or No. 5 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER).

The lower side of the 57kg bracket received a shock earlier this week as reigning world and Asian silver medalist Anshu ANSHU (IND) underwent right elbow surgery. She was seeded No. 3 at the weight but is expected to be replaced by Mansi MANSI (IND), who moved into the No. 6 seed in Anshu's absence.

Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) owns the second seed on the bottom of the chart.

Nikovlova will have No. 7 Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) in the quarterfinals. It'll be a rematch from the 2022 European finals, where the Ukrainian wrestler picked up a huge upset over the Bulgarian.

The winner of Nikovlova and Hrushyna Akobiia will take on the winner of No. 3 Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) and No. 6 Mansi.

59kg seeds:
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND)
No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL)
No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
No. 5 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
No. 6 Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR)
No. 7 Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
No. 8 Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER)

If seeds hold at 59kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND) vs. No. 8 Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER) (top side)
No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) vs. No. 5 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) (top side)
No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) vs. No. 7 Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) (bottom side)
No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL) vs. No. 6 Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND)vs. No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) (top side)
No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) vs. No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND) vs. No. 2 Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)

Sarita storms to top seed at 59kg
No. 1 Sarita SARITA (IND) proved she's one of the best wrestlers in the world at 59kg. Over the last year, she's only lost two matches. After losing at the World and Asian Championships, she fought back and won bronze medals. She also won Ranking Series titles at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and Zouhaier Sghaier, which helped her earn the top billing at 59kg. 

Sarita sits on the top side of the bracket with No. 8 Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER), No. 4 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) and No. 5 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA). If Sarita gets past Brugger, she'll likely have Nichita. Although Kolesnik is seeded higher, Nichita has been wrestling on another level this year.

Nachita is undefeated this season, winning U23 and Senior European titles to go along with her Yasar Dogu Ranking Series gold medal.

On the bottom side, Mongolia's Oslo world bronze medal winner Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) is seeded second. She'll wrestle No. 7 Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) in the quarterfinals before meeting the winner of No. 3 Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL) and No. 6 Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR).

62kg seeds:
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA)
No. 3 Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)
No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
No. 5 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
No. 6 Marwa AMRI (TUN)
No. 7 Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN)
No. 8 Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER)

If seeds hold at 62kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER) (top side)
No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) vs. No. 5 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) (top side)
No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA) vs. No. 7 Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) (bottom side)
No. 3 Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA) vs. No. 6 Marwa AMRI (TUN) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) (top side)
No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA) vs. No. 3 Kayla MIRACLE (USA) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. No. 2 Lais NUNES (BRA)

Tynybekova takes 62kg top seed 
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) tops the 62kg bracket and has put herself in a prime position to win a third consecutive world title.

Tynybekova earned the No. 1 seed after a silver-medal finish at the Olympic Games, a world title in Oslo and a runner-up finish at the Asian Championships. She'll have to get through No. 8 Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) in the quarterfinals to set up a possible Asian finals rematch with No. 4 Nonoka OZAKI (JPN). 

Tynybekova injury defaulted out of their Asian finals and settled for second place.

For the Tynybekova and Ozaki rematch to happen, the Japanese wrestler has to get through European bronze medalist No. 5 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the quarterfinals. 

Lais NUNES (BRA) earned the nod for the second seed on the bottom side of the chart. She's arguably the most traveled wrestler in the world this season. She started the season off at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event, where she scored a tech fall over top seeded Tynybekova. Then, she wrestled at the Pan-American Championships, Matteo Pellicone and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series events before wrapping up her pre-world championship tour at the Ion Corneanu & Ladislau Simon Memorial.

Nunes will face No. 7 Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) in the quarters. In their last meeting, the Brazilian fell to the Canadian in a back and forth 7-5 battle and went on to win a bronze medal, while Godinez went on to grab gold in Acapulco.

If Nunes can avenge that loss, she'll take on reigning world runner-up No. 3 Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA) or Rio Olympic bronze medalist No. 6 Marwa AMRI (TUN) in the semifinals.

65kg seeds:
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU)
No. 4 Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL)
No. 5 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
No. 6 Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA)
No. 7 Asli DEMIR (TUR)
No. 8 Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA)

If seeds hold at 65kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. No. 8 Mallory VELTE (USA) (top side)
No. 4 Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) vs. No. 5 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) (top side)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) vs. No. 7 Asli DEMIR (TUR) (bottom side)
No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) vs. No. 6 Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. No. 4 Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) (top side)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) vs. No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)

Morikawa secures No. 1 seeda at 65kg
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) heads into Belgrade possessing the top seed at 65kg. She won the Asian Championships earlier this year and a silver medal at last year's World Championships.

Morikawa's first seeded opponent will be No. 8 Mallory VELTE (USA), who she'll see in the quarterfinals. If she wins that match, she'll take on the winner of No. 4 Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) and No. 5 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR).

On the bottom side, Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) is seeded second. She picked up the second seed after runner-up finishes at the European Championships and the Bolat Turlykhanov Ranking Series event. She'll wrestle No. 3 Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) or No. 6 Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) in the semifinals.

68kg seeds
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA)
No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
No. 4 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
No. 5 Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL)
No. 6 Irina RINGACI (MDA)
No. 7 ZHOU Feng (CHN)
No. 8 Pauline Denise LECARPENTIER (FRA)

If seeds hold at 68kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) (top side)
No. 4 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) vs. No. 5 Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL) (top side)
No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA) vs. No. 7 ZHOU Feng (CHN) (bottom side)
No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) vs. No. 6 Irina RINGACI (MDA) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA K(GZ) vs. No. 4 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) (top side)
No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA) vs. No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA K(GZ) vs. No. 2 Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)

Zhumanazarova gains top seed from Olympic champ Mensah Stock

Reigning world champ Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) seized the top seed at 68kg after four podium finishes at point-based events. After finishing in third place at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Kyrgyz star won gold at the Oslo World Championships. During her 2022 campaign, she picked up silver medals at the Yasar Dogu and Asian Championships.

Through her efforts in wrestling at point-based events, Zhumanazarova put herself on the opposite side of the bracket as Olympic medalists No. 2 Tamyra Mariama MENSAH STOCK (USA) and No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), and reigning 65kg world champion No. 6 Irina RINGACI (MDA).

Olympic champion Mensah Stock headlines the bottom side of the bracket as the second-seeded wrestler. She'll see No. 7 ZHOU Feng (CHN) in the quarters. Mensah fell to Zhou in the finals of Matteo Pellicone a few years ago. If she can avenge that loss, she'll take on the winner of Oborududu or Ringaci for a finals berth.

72kg seeds:
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)
No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN)
No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
No. 5 Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU)
No. 6 Bipasha BIPASHA (IND)
No. 7 Kendra Augustine Jocelyne DACHER (FRA)
No. 8 Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

If seeds hold at 72kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. No. 8 Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) (top side)
No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) vs. No. 5 Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) (top side)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) vs. No. 7 Kendra Augustine Jocelyne DACHER (FRA) (bottom side)
No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN) vs. No. 6 Bipasha BIPASHA (IND) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) (top side)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) vs. No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN)  (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)

Bakbergenova bags top billing at 72kg
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) bagged the top billing at 72kg after an undefeated 2022 season. After closing out last year as a world runner-up, the Kazakh won gold at the Asian Championships and picked up Ranking Series titles at the Yasar Dogu and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup.

Bakbergenova's first seeded opponent will come in the quarterfinals against No. 8 Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR). Then, in the semifinals, she'll compete against the winner of No. 4 Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) and No. 5 Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU).

On the bottom side, it'll be No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) and No. 7 Kendra DACHER (FRA) in the quarterfinals. Then, the winner of that match will square off against the victor of No. 3 Masako FURUICHI (JPN) and No. 6 Bipasha BIPASHA (IND).

76kg seeds: 
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) 
No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST)
No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
No. 5 Francy RAEDELT (GER)
No. 6 Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTO)VA (UKR)
No. 7 Martina KUENZ (AUT
No. 8 Catalina AXENTE (ROU)

If seeds hold at 76kg:

Quarterfinals: 
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Catalina AXENTE (ROU) (top side)
No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. No. 5 Francy RAEDELT (GER) (top side)
No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) vs. No. 7 Martina KUENZ (AUT ) bottom side)
No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST) vs. No. 6 Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTO)VA (UKR) (bottom side)

Semifinals: 
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) (top side)
No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) vs. No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST)  (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY)

Medet Kyzy becomes third Kyrgyz wrestler to earn No. 1 seed 
In the absence of six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) picked up the No. 1 seed at 76kg. Since winning her world bronze medal in Oslo last year, Medet Kyzt has been on an absolute tear. She won golds at the U23 World and Asian Championships, Senior Asian Championships, and Bolat Trlykhanov and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series events.

Medet Kyzy's will wrestle No. 8 Catalina AXENTE (ROU) in the quarterfinals. Then, barring something catastrophic, she'll likely wrestle former world champion No. 4 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) for a spot in the world finals. 

On the lower half of the bracket, the quarterfinals will feature a matchup of world bronze medalists, as No. 2 Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY) and No. 7 Martina KUENZ (AUT) will go toe-to-toe. The winner of that match will take on either European champion No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST) or No. 6 Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTO)VA (UKR).