#WrestleUlaanbaatar

#WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships entries

Monday, April 11, 2022 - 16:46 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 11) -- For most participating nations, the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia will be the first opportunity to return to the mat after a long break. The Continental Championships will be held from April 19-24. More than 270 wrestlers will aim to become Asian champions.

In freestyle, India and Iran are bringing strong teams with Tokyo medalists Ravi KUMAR (IND) and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) leading the charge for the former, while the latter will have Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI).

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan can surprise in a few weight classes. For Kyrgyzstan, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Uluukbek ZHODOSHBEKOV (KGZ) are the big names. Uzbekistan will bank upon Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), veteran Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) and Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB).

Rio silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), 2019 Asian silver medalist Minghu LIU (CHN), Deepak PUNIA (IND) and Zhiwei DENG (CHN) are other names to keep an eye on.

The women's wrestling will see the return of Japan and China teams after six months. The two nations last competed at the Oslo World Championships. Both teams had missed last year's edition due to travel issues.

Japan is the favorite to win the team title as they are bringing five wrestlers, including three gold medalists, who were in Oslo. World champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be the star attraction of the competition as the 18-year-old wrestles at her second senior tournament.

Kyrgyzstan's world champions Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will try to defend their titles from Almaty. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be hoping to upgrade her Almaty silver to gold at 76kg.

Tokyo silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), Ningning RONG (CHN), Jia LONG (CHN), World silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND), two-time Asian champion Sarita MOR (IND) and Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) are other storylines to follow.

The Greco-Roman will be headlined by Tokyo silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and former World and Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) at 77kg. 

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) are all entered at 60kg to make it one of the most stacked weight class.

Hansu RYU (KOR) will wrestle at 67kg. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) has moved up to 97kg and will wrestle in Ulaanbaatar after winning the Ranking Series title in Istanbul.

Wrestling begins with Greco-Roman Tuesday followed by women's wrestling Thursday and freestyle will finish the competition.

All the action and recaps will be live on uww.org.

Mohammadian

Freestyle

57kg

Seeds
1. Ravi KUMAR (IND)
2. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
3. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
4. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)

Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Reza MOMENIJOUJADEH (IRI)
Rikuto ARAI (JPN)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Gayan KATHURANGANA (SRI)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

61kg

Seeds:
1. Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
3. Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
4. Mangal KADYAN (IND)

Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Mangal KADYAN (IND)
Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI)
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Insang CHOI (KOR)
Ali ALMOHAINI (KUW)
Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL)
Sampath BANDARA (SRI)
Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK)
Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
2. Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
3. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
3. Haji ALI (BRN)

Haji ALI (BRN)
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Seonho YOO (KOR)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Inayat ULLAH (PAK)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)

70kg

Seeds:
1. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
2. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)

Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Mohammadmehdi YEGANEHJAFARI (IRI)
Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Yongseok JEONG (KOR)
Mohammed ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL)
Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB)

74kg

Seeds:
1. Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
2. Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
4. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)

Yash TUSHIR (IND)
Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
Daichi TAKATANI (JPN)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Seungbong LEE (KOR)
Abdullah ABDALKAREEM (KUW)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Hong LOU (SGP)
Lakmal WIJESOORIYA (SRI)
Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB)

79kg

Seeds:
1. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
2. Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
3. Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
4. Gourav BALIYAN (IND)

Gourav BALIYAN (IND)
Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Bumgue SEO (KOR)
Abdullah HAIDAR (KUW)
Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)
Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK)
Jasurbek USMONOXUNOV (UZB)

86kg

Seeds
1. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
2. Deepak PUNIA (IND)
3. Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
4. Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)

Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI)
Shota SHIRAI (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Muhammad INAM (PAK)
Weng CHOW (SGP)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg

Seeds:
1. Takuma OTSU (JPN)
2. Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
3. Viky CHAHAR (IND)
4. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

Viky CHAHAR (IND)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Takuma OTSU (JPN)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinmyeong KIM (KOR)
Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
2. Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
3. Satywart KADIAN (IND)
4. Minwon SEO (KOR)

Satywart KADIAN (IND)
Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN)
Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Minwon SEO (KOR)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)

125kg

Seeds:
1. Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
2. Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
3. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)
4. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)

Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
Yeihyun JUNG (KGZ)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Anshu

Women's Wrestling

50kg

Seeds:
1. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
2. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
3. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)
4. Miran CHEON (KOR)

MANISHA (IND)
Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
Aigul NURALIM (KAZ)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg

Seeds:
1. Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
2. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

Swati SHINDE (IND)
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyunyoung OH (KOR)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

55kg

Seeds:
1. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)

Sushma SHOKEEN (IND)
Umi IMAI (JPN)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL)
Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB)

57kg

Seeds:
1. Anshu MALIK (IND)
2. Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
3. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
4. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

Anshu MALIK (IND)
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyungjoo KIM (KOR)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

59kg

Seeds:
1. Sarita MOR (IND)
2. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
3. Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)

Sarita MOR (IND)
Sara NATAMI (JPN)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

62kg

Seeds:
1. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
2. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
3. Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)

MANISHA (IND)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Sachini SILVA (SRI)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
2. Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)
3. Dariga ABEN (KAZ)

RADHIKA (IND)
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
Dariga ABEN (KAZ)
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)

68kg

Seeds:
1. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
2. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
3. Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

Sonika HOODA (IND)
Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN)
Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Sujin PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
2. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)

NIKKI (IND)
Sumire NIIKURA (JPN)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)

76kg

Seeds:
1. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

Sudesh KUMARI (IND)
Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL)
Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB)

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV

Greco-Roman

55kg

Seeds:
1. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
2. Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)

Arjun HALAKURKI (IND)
Ali NOURBAKHSH (IRI)
Mostafa ALQADE (JOR)
Yu SHIOTANI (JPN)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ)
Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)
Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg

Seeds:
1. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
3. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
4. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)

Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL)
Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB)

63kg

Seeds:
1. Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
2. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

NEERAJ (IND)
Iman KHOONMOHAMMADI (IRI)
Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ)
Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinseub SONG (KOR)
Baljinnyam DAMJIN (MGL)
Ahmad AL NAKDALI (SYR)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg

Seeds:
1. Hansu RYU (KOR)
2. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)
3. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI)
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Eldiiar SATAROV (KGZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL)
Mohamad FAWAZ (SYR)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
2. Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
3. Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
4. VIKAS (IND)

VIKAS (IND)
Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ)
Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB)

77kg

Seeds:
1. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
2. Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
3. Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
4. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI)
Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg

Seeds:
1. Dias KALEN (KAZ)
2. Harpreet SINGH (IND)

Harpreet SINGH (IND)
Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI)
Sultan EID (JOR)
Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ)
Sejin YANG (KOR)
Batzul DAMJIN (MGL)
Jafar KHAN (QAT)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg

Seeds:
1. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
2. Sunil KUMAR (IND)
3. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Masato SUMI (JPN)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinhyeok KIM (KOR)
Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)
2. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Jewoo PARK (KOR)
4. Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)

RAVI (IND)
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI)
Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN)
Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Jewoo PARK (KOR)
Munkhbayar TSOGTBAYAR (MGL)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg

Seeds:
1. Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
2. Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
3. Arata SONODA (JPN)
4. Minseok KIM (KOR)

PREM (IND)
Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI)
Arata SONODA (JPN)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL)
Timothy LOH (SGP)
Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

#WrestleBudapest

Ranking Series: Maroulis, Blades lead strong U.S. team to Budapest

Saturday, July 12, 2025 - 09:46 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 11) -- Although it will a Ranking Series by name, Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial tournament starting on Thursday in Budapest will serve more than just that for many wrestlers.

For some it will be about the ranking points, for other it is a preparatory tour for the World Championships. The United States is bringing its world team, almost while some others will test this event to select their representatives for the World Championships, to be held in September in Zagreb.

Helen MAROULIS (USA), who has not wrestled since winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August 2024, will be leading the team which also has Paris Olympics silver medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA), who continues to shine at 68kg, a weight class she moved from 76kg at the start of the season.

Turkiye, Canada, India, Kazakhstan and a few United World Wrestling wrestlers will light up Budapest from July 17 to 20. Women's Wrestling will be held on 18 and 19. 

A few other individual stars will be making an appearance, namely, Irina RINGACI (MDA), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Here's a breakdown of all 10 weight classes for Women' Wrestling in Budapest:

For Maroulis, who booked her World Championships spot on the U.S. team in June, the Budapest Ranking Series will pose a challenge as she returns to the mat. Having dominated the 'Final X' competition in the U.S., Maroulis will now look to show her dominance at the international stage. The U.S. has also entered Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) to the competition at 57kg.

Tokyo silver medalist and former European champion Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) and 2025 European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) look to be the toughest challenge for Maroulis in the bracket. 

India's world U17 champion and world U20 medalist NEHA (IND) has made a few headlines by winning the Mongolian Open Ranking Series and followed that up with a gold medal at Yasar Dogu. Budapest will be a stern test for the youngster.

European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) is also in the mix to get Ranking points and get a seed for the World Championships.

Blades should run through the 68kg bracket in Budapest. She has the likes of world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) and European champion Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) in the draw but Blades is a level above the field entered for the competition.

Blades won the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in February and also her first Pan-Am title in May. She is currently 12th in the rankings but has a chance to jump as high as sixth with a gold medal.

Tosun won a bronze medal at the European Championships in her first competition since the Paris Games and looked in good form, something she would love to carry to Budapest as well. An appearance in the final and she can well become the top ranked wrestler at 68kg.

Shevchenko made a great impression by winning the European gold in a tough bracket and has a consolidate on that win with a good show in Budapest.

Other names include Kendra DACHER (FRA), Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) and Brooklyn HAYS (USA).

Dymond GUILFORD (USA)Both Dymond GUILFORD (USA) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are entered at 76kg which could give us a rematch of Tirana final from February. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 76kg, a rematch of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series final is on the cards as both Medet Kyzy and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) are entered. Guilford managed to beat Medet Kyzy in the final in Tirana but Medet Kyzy has since won the Asian Championships and Yasar Dogu golds.

Two young stars in the bracket include PRIYA (IND) and Elmira YASIN (TUR), both have multiple age-group continental and world medals. Former Asian champion Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is also entered.

The 62kg and 65kg weight classes can throw some interesting match-ups, especially with Bullen and Rigaci continuing their season at 65kg. Bullen is a regular 62kg while Ringaci was at 68kg at Olympics and World Championships.

Ringaci and Bullen met in the 65kg final of the European Championships this year and the latter managed to beat Ringaci to capture the gold medal. Both can meet again in Budapest.

World bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA), who will be in Zagreb for the U.S., will look to win gold and throw her hat in the ring as a contender for world title in Zagreb.

Dudova, Ana GODINEZ (CAN), MANISHA (IND), Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) are some of the names that highlight 62kg.

Dudova won bronze at the European Championships while Godinez won the Pan-Am gold in May. Manisha was the Asian champion in April but lost at the Mongolian Open in June and will be keen on returning to winning ways.

Kolawale is the African champion while Nwachukwu won the 'Final X' and will be in Zagreb for the World Championships. Kasabieva has blown hot and cold so far, but had good wins at the Mongolian Open to build some momentum in the season.

Tandelova, the youngster with medals at Zagreb Open and European U23s, finished fifth at the senior Europeans but has the potential to be on the podium in Budapest.

At 53kg, world and Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) will start as the favorite in the bracket, especially after her domination at the Mongolian Open. She won gold in Mongolia without giving up a point in four bouts.

European medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), Felicity TAYLOR (USA) and Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) will look to finish on the podium as well.

In what will be one of the biggest brackets in Budapest, the 50kg will see European silver medalist Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), Mongolia Open winner Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), European bronze medalist Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW), multiple world age-group medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), Madison PARKS (CAN), Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) among others.

Pudova and Demirhan put on a stunning 50kg final in Ulaanbaatar which the former managed to win 7-6 despite comebacks from Demirhan. A medal in Budapest will put Pudova as one of the contenders for a podium-finish in Zagreb.

Pan-Am champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN), European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and the U.S. rep for Zagreb Worlds Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) and Turkiye's young sensation Tuba DEMIR (TUR) will be the key names at 55kg.

At 59kg, world bronze medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR) will look to win her first Ranking Series medal but has a tough road to medal bouts. She will have Elena BRUGGER (GER), Erika BOGNAR (HUN), Bediha GUN (TUR), Abigail NETTE (USA) and Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) in the same bracket.

Gun suffered a heartbreaking loss in the European finals but won Yasar Dogu tournament and will likely finish on podium in Budapest. Nette and Sidelnikova are strong contenders for a place in the final.

Three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) should have an easy path to 72kg gold unless Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) or HARSHITA (IND) spring a surprise to deny her.