#RankingSeries

Women's wrestling rankings released

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.

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)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)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)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)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)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.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)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)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)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)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.

2026 U23 European Championships

Aliev, Amirov Comebacks Help Russia Win Three Greco Golds

By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 14) -- Imam ALIEV (RUS) had to win his final, twice.

Aliev was down 4-0 against Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) in the 87kg Greco-Roman final at the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia.

Seeing an opportunity, Aliev wrapped his arms around Karchaidze and brought him down back first. He held the France wrestler to win via fall. However, France challenged for a foul and on review, an offensive leg foul was confirmed and the score reversed to 4-0 and the fall cancelled.

On restart, Aliev kept the pressure and used an arm drag to bring down Karchaidze who was back paddling towards the zone. On this occasion, Aliev secured the fall and on review after a challenge from France, the call was upheld.

The gold medal was Aliev's first continental medal to go along with his bronze from the 2023 U20 World Championships.

For Karchaidze, it was second straight silver medal at the U23 Europeans as he lost the final last year against Alperen BERBER (TUR). Incidentally, he lost that final via a fall as well.

Aliev was one of the three Russian wrestlers who won gold medal in Zrenjanin on Saturday.

Alibek AMIROV (RUS) defended his 55kg title after a hard-fought 3-3 victory over Farid SADIKHLI (AZE) in the final. Sadikhli was on board first as Amirov was called passive in the first period.

As Sadikhli turned Amirov from par terre to score two points, Amirov reversed the position when he blocked Sadikhli and held him in danger to get two points. Sadikhli led 3-2 at the break but when Amirov got the par terre advantage in the second period, the Russian led 3-3 on criteria.

With a minute and five seconds left in the match, Amirov was offered another passivity advantage, without points, and he continued the match in standing rather than the usual par terre that wrestler ask for.

He defended his 3-3 criteria lead and won his second straight gold medal at the tournament.

Last year's silver medalist at 72kg, Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) improved to gold medal, this year at 77kg. He defeated Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 1-1, in the gold medal bout.

Grigorev and Terteryan were both put in par terre in either period but both failed to score any points. Since Grigorev was the first to get passivity point, he held the winning criteria.

Armenia managed to recover and claim a gold medal as Aramasyis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) defeated Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1, in the 130kg final to claim his first ever medal.

Darabos, U20 European and world champion, was called passive in the first period and Harutyunyan in the second but both did not score any points. As a result, Harutyunyan claimed the criteria win.

World bronze medalist and defending champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) denied Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS), 6-2, in the 63kg final to win gold. This was Eriomenco's fifth medal in six U23 European Championships.

When Shungurtsikov was put in par terre, Eriomenco scored a turn to lead 3-0. With just over a minute left, Eriomenco scored a stepout to extend his lead to 4-0 before Shungurtsikov was called passive and put in par terre which added another point to Eriomenco's score.

Eriomenco was happy with his 5-0 lead but gave up a takedown late in the final as Shungurtsikov cut the lead to 5-2. Russia challenged, asking for fleeing but were denied which made the score 6-2.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Alibek AMIROV (RUS) df. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 3-3

BRONZE: Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Sercan KESGIN (TUR), 9-0
BRONZE: Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 5-5

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS), 6-2

BRONZE: Jan GAMELIUS (SWE) df. Marios KAPANTAIS (GRE), 11-3
BRONZE: Ilkin GURBANOV (AZE) df. Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), via fall (8-3)

77kg
GOLD: Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) df. Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 1-1

BRONZE: Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO) df. Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR), 8-6
BRONZE: Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 2-1

87kg
GOLD: Imam ALIEV (RUS) df. Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA), via fall (3-4)

BRONZE: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Martin LJOSAAK (NOR), 10-2
BRONZE: Yassine BEN LABED (POL) df. Patrik GORDAN (ROU), 3-1

130kg
GOLD: Aramayis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1 

BRONZE: Alan DZABIEV (BUL) df. Sebastian WARCHOL (POL), 1-1
BRONZE: Aleksandr MELEKHOV (RUS) df. Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR), via fall (12-7)