#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).

#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.