Women's wrestling rankings released

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 - 11:23 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 22) -- With the continental championships beginning next month, United World Wrestling released rankings that will determine the seeds of those tournaments and will offer more ranking points to the participating wrestlers.

Women's rankings in all 10 weight classes show that the top-ranked wrestlers at the start of the year are keen on keeping it as we head towards the World Championships in the second half of the year.

While the continental championships will have four seeds, the World Championships will have eight seeds. The tournament in Belgrade will also offer Paris Olympics qualifying spots.

Here's the breakdown of the rankings in 10 women's wrestling weight classes after the Ranking Series events in Zagreb and Alexandria which offered points.

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50kg
Yui SUSAKI (JPN) returned to the Ranking Series event for the first time in five years and won gold. At the start of the year, she had 45000 points but the gold took her total to 58000 points, 12800 points clear of the second-placed Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) who has 45200 points. Anna LUKASIAK (POL) has jumped one place to third with the 5050 points she received for finishing 10th in Zagreb.

Emilia VUC (ROU) has added 5800 points for her ninth-place finish in Alexandria which pushed her to the fifth spot. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) is sixth with 29320 points as she finished seventh in Zagreb and 11th in Alexandria. She collected a total of 12320 points.

She was 10th at the start of the year but Madison PARKS (CAN) has jumped to seventh with a 10th place finish in Zagreb and fifth in Alexandria. She collected 14480 points in the two tournaments and now has 28780 points.

The new entrant in the top 10 is Ziqi FENG (CHN) who has 27000 points. She finished third in Zagreb for 16000 points and won the gold in Alexandria for 11000 points more.

Miesinnei GENESIS (MGR), earlier sixth with 25000 points, has now slipped to 10th.

Dominique PARRISH (USA) remains number one in 53kg weight class. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

53kg
She may not have won any medals in Zagreb and Alexandria but world champion Dom PARRISH (USA) continues to lead the rankings with 50800 points. World silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) remains second with 45520 points, 8520 points more than her 37000 points at the start of the year.

Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), the two wrestlers who finished fifth at World Championships, are now third and fourth respectively. Yepez won the gold medal in Alexandria for 13000 points and also has 5800 points for her 11th place finish in Zagreb. Malmgren now has 33200 points, thanks to the 8200 points she collected for her eighth-place finish in Alexandria.

Iulia LEORDA (MDA) and Li DENG (CHN) broke into the top 10 after the two ranking events. Leorda has 17680 points in the eighth spot while Deng has 16475 points at the 10th spot.

Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) remain 1-2 at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

55kg
The top three at 55kg remain unchanged with world champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) leading the way. But coming in at number four is Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), who was sixth at the start of the year. She has 33000 points as she won the gold medal in Alexandria. That has pushed Karla GODINEZ (CAN) to fifth and Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) to sixth.

Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), who was 10th at the start of the year with 14300 points, has jumped to seventh with 19500 points. She got 5200 points for her bronze in Alexandria.

Sedneva's jump means that Andreea ANA (ROU), Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) and Roksana ZASINA (POL) have slipped one place each to complete the list.

Helen MAROULIS (USA), left, has replaced Tsugumu SAKURAI (JPN) at the top at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

57kg
Helen MAROULIS (USA) is back on top. The former world champion was 8000 points behind leader and world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) at the start of the year but went 200 points ahead of her with an eighth-place finish in Zagreb. Maroulis now has 45200 points for the top spot while Sakurai remains at 45000 points.

Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) and Anhelina LYSAK (POL) remain third and fourth respectively but their total points have increased.

Yongxin FENG (CHN) jumped from ninth to fifth with 33420 points as she won a silver medal in Zagreb and finished seventh in Alexandria. In the sixth position is Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) with 27875 points as she also participated in both Zagreb and Alexandria. Finish 13th in Zagreb was worth 5075 points while finishing ninth in Alexandria gave her 5800 points.

Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) and Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), who were fifth and sixth respectively, are now seventh and eighth.

Giullia PENALBER (BRA) and Qi ZHANG (CHN) have broken into top-10 with 23400 points and 18400 points respectively.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) consolidated her position at the top at 59kg with two medals in two events. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

59kg
A gold medal at the Zagreb Open and silver in Alexandria took world champion Anastasia NICHITA's (MDA) total to 53400 points as she continues to remain number one at 59kg. There is no change in the rankings until the seventh position which is now occupied by Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) with 17500 points.

Kayumova was ninth with 13500 points but she improved two places to seventh with a fifth-place finish in Alexandria. That means that MANSI (IND) is now eighth, Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) is ninth and Abigail NETTE (USA) is tenth.

Kayla MIRACLE (USA) is now the top ranked wrestler at 62kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

62kg
World champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) has been hurt by not competing since winning the gold medal in Belgrade. She was the number one wrestler with 45000 points but Kayla MIRACLE (USA) now has 56200 points to jump to the top spot.

Not only that, world bronze medalist Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), who was fourth, is now second with 48200 points. She improved her rank with 11th-place finish in Zagreb and a silver medal in Alexandria.

Ozaki now sits third with 45000 points with Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) on her heels at fourth with 43075 points. Tynybekova finished 13th in Zagreb but bounced back to win gold in Alexandria which took her total from 25000 points to 43075 points.

World bronze medalist Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) is fifth with 36800 points while Ana GODINEZ (CAN) is sixth with 33200 points. Sara LINDBORG (SWE) finished fifth in Alexandria for 9000 points and managed to improve one rank to seventh with 26000 points. Lais NUNES (BRA) also jumped from 10th to eighth with 23300 points.

Two newcomers in the top-10 include Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) who has 22613 points and Grace BULLEN (NOR) with 19600 points.

World champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) remains number one at 65kg with 43000 points. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

65kg
World champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) continues to rule 65kg as she has 43000 points at the top.

World bronze medalist Mallory VELTE (USA) has jumped from fourth to second with 35400 points as both Jia LONG (CHN) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) have moved into Olympic weight classes.

There are no other changes in the remaining rankings.

Taymra MENSAH STOCK (USA) headlines the rankings at 68kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

68kg
No one has been able to touch world champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) as he remains top-ranked with 45000 points. Irina RINGACI (MDA) has moved to the second spot over Ami ISHII (JPN) as she now has 39200 points over Ishii's 37000 points. World bronze medalist Linda MORAIS (CAN) remains fourth with 31000 points.

Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL) has jumped from sixth to fourth with 28705 points from her earlier 18200 points. She finished 10th in Zagreb and 15th in Alexandria.

Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) has broken into the top-10 with 25800 points as she won silver in Zagreb. She also finished fifth in Alexandria to further improve her rank.

Former fifth NISHA (IND) and sixth Feng ZHOU (CHN) have now slipped to seventh and eighth. Two France wrestlers, Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), are ninth and tenth with 22500 points and 22400 points.

Amit ELOR (USA) is ranked number one at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

72kg
The biggest change at 72kg is Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) who has jumped from sixth to third with 30760 points. She earlier had 23000 points. She claimed 4000 points for her fifth place in Zagreb and 3760 points for being sixth in Alexandria.

Amit ELOR (USA) continues to be number one with 43000 points followed by Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with 35000 points.

No further changes were seen in this weight class until the eighth spot which is now occupied by REETIKA (IND) with 15960 points. She broke into the top 10 with a sixth-place finish in Zagreb and a bronze medal in Alexandria. This also means that Shauna KUEBECK (CAN) has moved to ninth with 15000 points.

Silver medal in Zagreb and gold in Alexandria have propelled Dalma CANEVA (ITA) to the 10th spot with 14400 points.

Samar HAMZA (EGY) replaced Yasemin ADAR (TUR) from the top at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

76kg
The weight class with the most uncertainty is topped by Samar HAMZA (EGY) as she has 50280 points, 5280 points more than world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR). Hamza finished 10th in Zagreb and ninth in Alexandria.

Fifth placer at World Championships Genesis REASCO (ECU) is now third with 37000 points as she collected 12000 points over the two Ranking Series events.

Juan WANG (CHN) also improved her rank from seventh to fourth with 36600 points from 18200 points at the start of the year. She almost doubled her points with fifth place in Zagreb and a silver medal in Alexandria.

Justina DI STASIO (CAN) is now fifth with 35200 points followed by Epp MAE (EST) with 34800 points. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) is seventh with 31000 points.

Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) holds on to her eighth spot with 20075 points but Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) breaks into top-10 at ninth with 19600 points as she won silver in Zagreb and bronze in Alexandria. She was ranked 11th with 11400 points after the Zagreb event.

Martina KUENZ (AUT) is 10th with 15500 points.

#JapanWrestling

Fumita Earns Ticket to Worlds, Higuchi Surprisingly Takes a Pass

Friday, May 22, 2026 - 16:22 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (May 22) -- Having followed nearly identical paths up to and after their triumphs at the Paris Olympics, Rei HIGUCHI suddenly diverged from Kenichiro FUMITA on an issue that no one had seen coming.

Higuchi captured the Freestyle 61kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships in Friday in Tokyo, only to then make the stunning announcement that he would take a pass on a playoff for Japan's team to this year's World Championships.

Fumita earned a chance at a third world title and first since 2019 when he claimed the Greco-Roman 63kg gold, then handily defeated Asian bronze medalist Kaisei TANABE 9-1 in a playoff.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) defeated Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), 3-0, in the 61kg final for Meiji Cup. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Higuchi, the Paris gold medalist at 57kg, cited a single-minded desire to become a repeat Olympic champion as being behind his lack of interest in trying to add a world title to the one he claimed in 2022.

"In December, the qualifying process at 57kg starts for [the 2028] Los Angeles [Olympics]," Higuchi said. "There is the World Championships, but all I am thinking of is a second straight title in Los Angeles.

"Strategically speaking, I have six months from now to get my body ready and drop to 57kg, and I want to give that priority. That's how I came to this decision."

Fumita, a former teammate of Higuchi's at Nippon Sports Science University who now shares the same corporate sponsor, was neither critical nor surprised by the move.

"He has his own way of thinking," said Fumita, the Paris gold medalist at Greco 60kg. "To tell the truth, before the Meiji Cup, he continually said how he was not aiming for the World Championships. I thought, that's just like him."

"I'm the type who gets into the position where I earn the ticket first, then consider what I want to do. For him to be able to just make such a decision on the spot, I think is actually pretty cool."

The Meiji Cup is serving as the second of two qualifiers for the Asian Games (in the Olympic weights) and World Championships, both of which will be held in the fall. A wrestler who wins the first qualifier -- the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held in December -- and the Meiji Cup earns the national team place outright; a playoff is held when the winners are different.

Higuchi set up the playoff, that he eventually spurned, by defeating Emperor's Cup champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA 3-0 in the 61kg final, scoring a spin-behind takedown and stepout in the first period.

"It was fun being back in competition for the first time in awhile, and I was excited and nervous," Higuchi said. "I didn't really feel much pressure.

"As the Olympic champion, I think there were some people expecting an upset. But win or lose, it's not going to change that I am the Olympic gold medalist. In that way, I paid no mind and could enjoy my wrestling."

Powering the 30-year-old Higuchi's quest for gold at Los Angeles is a desire to etch his place among -- or at the top -- of the greats in Japanese wrestling history. He wants to join the legendary Yojiro UETAKE, who won the Freestyle 57kg gold at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Olympics, as the only Japanese males to win consecutive Olympic titles.

"In Japanese wrestling history, there has been only one [male] who has won back-to-back Olympic titles," Higuchi said. "My goal is to become the strongest wrestler in Japan history. There are many greats who came before me, and I want to top their records by ending with a second gold in Los Angeles."

With Higuchi stepping aside, Hasegawa automatically gained a chance to improve on the bronze medal he won at the 2021 World Championships.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) battles it out during his 63kg final against Manato NAKAMURA (JPN). (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Unlike Higuchi, Fumita had planned to return to action at the Emperor's Cup, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. His dominant run to his fifth career Meiji Cup gold and first since 2022 made victory all the sweeter.

"Being in the position of winning again makes me realize how great it is. Winning really is great," Fumita said. "I really kept my focus. From the time Paris was over to now, I thought quite a lot about my wrestling and how I wanted to approach it, and in the final and the playoff, I was able to bring out what I had imagined."

In the 63kg final, Fumita used a high chest wrap from par terre to score three exposures and finished off Manato NAKAMURA 9-0 in just over two minutes.

That put him into the playoff, held a few hours later following the medal ceremony. Tanabe, who nearly completed a rare Freestyle-Greco double at the Emperor's Cup, had defaulted his first-round match, ensuring he would be fresh for the playoff.

As impressive as Tanabe has been in his "side" job in Greco, he proved no match for the powerful and wily Fumita, who also has a Olympic silver and two other world medals to his credit.

From par terre, Fumita relied on the high chest wrap again, rolling Tanabe twice to take a 5-0 lead into the second period. Tanabe had his chance at par terre, only for Fumita to step over on a roll attempt for 2, then gain control and end the match with a gut wrench in 3:15.

"After taking a little rest, I was able to turn the switch back on," Fumita said. "Getting the ticket [to the World Championships] was my No. 1 objective, and first off, I was able to clear that. But I intend to eventually go back down to 60kg."

Tanabe, who is also part of the training group of past and current NSSU students, will attempt to win the Freestyle 65kg title over the next two days.

"Normally, he practices Freestyle, but sometimes joins in Greco," Fumita said. "He has entered competitions in Greco and even won a medal in Asia, so he definitely has the ability. As such, I had to dig deep and fight and stay aware of not giving him any openings.

"He's preparing to compete in Freestyle at 65kg tomorrow and the day after and I will switch over to his side and give him my total support."

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) scores upon Noah LEIBOWITZ (JPN) during 97kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.com / Takeo Yabuki)

Yoshida Secures Return Trip to Worlds

In other action, world bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA, coming off a second consecutive gold-medal run at the Asian Championships, won a second straight title at Freestyle 97kg with a 11-0 victory over up-and-coming teenager Noah LEIBOWITZ.

The result was a repeat of the final at the Emperor's Cup, thus clinching Yoshida's spot on the national team to the Worlds.

"Along with aiming to win, my objective was to use what I worked on in practice," Yoshida said. "But looking at it that way, there were more things I didn't use, so I need to practice so that they come out in matches.

"My opponent has a strong attack, and that makes it easy to wear yourself out. So my plan to was to let him shoot, stop it and get behind, and that's just how it went."

At Freestyle 70kg, Yuma TOMIYAMA received a victory by default over Taishi NARIKUNI, who suffered a severe facial injury earlier in the day in a Greco match.

Narikuni, who completed the Freestyle-Greco double at the Emperor's Cup that eluded Tanabe, was hospitalized and will undergo surgery on a broken eye socket, according to family members.

In Women's Wrestling, two Asian silver medalists earned their first trips to the senior Worlds, one outright and the other through the playoff route.

At 65kg, Nana IKEHATA, the 2024 world U20 champion, followed up her triumph at the Emperor's Cup with a 9-2 victory over Hiyori MOTOKI.

Mahiro YOSHITAKE avenged a loss in the semifinals to eventual 72kg champion Shirin TAKEMOTO, winning their playoff 5-1. Earlier, Takemoto defeated Chisato YOSHIDA 11-0 in the final.

One of the day's bronze-medal matches took sibling rivalry to the extreme, as Daizo TANIZAKI got the better of younger brother Konosuke at Greco 82kg. Daizo used a front headlock for a 4-point throw, then kept hold to add two rolls to win 8-0 in 1:14.

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Rei HIGUCHI df. Toshihiro HASEGAWA, 3-0

BRONZE: Rikito SASAKI df. Kosei KANEKO, 8-2
BRONZE: Akito MUKAIDA df. Meiryu AKAMINE, 4-1

70kg
GOLD: Yuma TOMIYAMA df. Taishi NARIKUNI by Inj. Def.

BRONZE: Taichi YAMAGUCHI df. Kaito MORITA, 9-5
BRONZE: Shina YASUMI df. Taishin HONNA, 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Sorato KANAZAWA df. Ryogo ASANO, 6-5

BRONZE: Takeru TAKESHIGE df. Yuya YOSHIDA, 12-4
BRONZE: Takato UCHIDA df. Ryuki NOSE, 9-0

97kg
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA df. Noah LEIBOWITZ by TS, 11-0, 5:33

BRONZE: Satoshi MIURA df. Daiki ITO by TS, 14-1, 5:48
BRONZE: Toyoki HAMADA df. Yuto UEKI by Fall, 3:41 (4-1)

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Kagetora OKAMOTO df. Keidai ITO, 6-5

BRONZE: Mizuki ARAKI df. Hiro SAKAMOTO by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Sanshiro TAKAHASHI df. Taketo NINOMIYA, 6-4

63kg
GOLD: Kenichiro FUMITA df. Manato NAKAMURA by TS, 9-0, 2:03

BRONZE: Kensho NATAMI df. Rikito SASAKI, 7-3
BRONZE: Shoya ITO df. Ryota Koshiba, 2-1

World team playoff: Fumita df. Kaisei TANABE by TS, 9-1, 3:15

82kg
GOLD: Tatsuya FUJII df. Tesshin HIGUCHI by TS, 10-1, 4:15

BRONZE: Yahiro MOTOHASHI df. Isshin ONITSUKA, 4-2
BRONZE: Daizo TANIZAKI df. Konosuke TANIZAKI by TS, 8-0, 1:16

130kg
GOLD: Sota OKUMURA df. Yuta NARA, 1-1

BRONZE: Koei YAMADA df. Tsubasa HARUKAZE by Fall, :19 (2-0)
BRONZE: Kosei MIYAKE df. Shion OBATA by Fall, 2:00 (2-1)

World team playoff: Nara df. Okumura, 2-1

Women’s Wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Nagisa HARADA df. Konami ONO, 7-7

BRONZE: Yuna SAWATANI df. Narumi NAKAMURA, 3-0
BRONZE: Ruka NATAMI df. Haru UCHINO, 6-5

59kg
GOLD: Natsuki YAMAGUCHI df. Nagisa ITO, 3-2

BRONZE: Himeka HASEGAWA, no match
BRONZE: Miuna KIMURA df. Risa MOTOHARA, 4-1

65kg
GOLD: Nana IKEHATA df. Hiyori MOTOKI, 9-2

BRONZE: Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Kotone HIRATA by TS, 10-0, 4:34
BRONZE: Momoko KITADE df. Haruka KOBARU, 1-1

72kg
GOLD: Shirin TAKEMOTO df. Chisato YOSHIDA by TS, 11-0, 5:26

BRONZE: Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Makia KIMURA by Fall, 1:34 (6-0)
BRONZE: Kaede MATSUYAMA df. Ai SAKAI, 4-0

World team playoff: Yoshitake df. Takemoto, 5-1

Women's wrestling rankings released

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Fumita Earns Ticket to Worlds, Higuchi Surprisingly Takes a Pass