February Rankings, United World Wrestling, Women's Wrestling, Icho, Zhou, Vorobieva, Maroulis, Gray

Zhou Takes Over No.1 at 69kg, Icho Still Atop 58kg in Women’s Rankings

By William May

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 3) – World silver medalist ZHOU Feng (CHN) emerged the new leader at 69kg in the first United World Wrestling rankings for women’s wrestling in 2016.

Zhou took over the top spot after an upset loss by world champion Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games test event, which featured some of the top female wrestlers in the world.

Zhou defeated former junior world champion Dorothy YEATS (CAN) in the light heavyweight final by technical fall after the Pan American Games gold medalist defeated Vorobieva in the opening round.

Meanwhile, halfway around the world, another world champion also stumbled, but still remains on top of her weight category in this month’s rankings.

Three-time Olympic Games gold medalist Kaori ICHO (JPN), who had won 189 matches in a row following her last loss in 2003, was stunned in the 58kg final at the Yarygin Grand Prix tourney in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Unranked PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL), who wrestles most frequently at 55kg, had an answer for all of Icho’s attacks and ended up with a technical fall over the 10-time world champion. 

Despite the loss, Icho remains in control of 58kg – at least, for the time being -- since there were no challengers in the rankings in a position to take up the mantle.

A challenge, however, was issued to three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) by Erica WIEBE (CAN), who had pinned 2013 world champion ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) in the semifinals at 75kg in Rio.

Gray defeated a pair of silver medal winners from the previous world championships in Aline FERREIRA (BRA) in the quarterfinals and ZHOU Qian (CHN) in the semifinals before edging Wiebe, 7-4, in the final.
 
Wrestlers in the rankings are listed by name, country code, most notable or most recent result over the last 12 months, and their position in the previous rankings.

48kg – 2013 world champion SUN Yanan (CHN) took an injury default from Valentina ISLAMOVA (RUS) to climb to No.3 in the rankings while Asia champion Yuki IRIE (JPN) won her second Yarygin Grand Prix by fall over Nadezhda FEDOROVA (RUS) to break into the rankings at No.8.

1. Eri TOSAKA (JPN) – World No.1 (1)
2. Mariya STADNYK (AZE) – World No.2 (2)
3. SUN Yanan (CHN) – Rio Test Event No.1 (7)
4. Valentina ISLAMOVA (RUS) – Rio Test No.2 (4)
5. Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) – World No.3 (3)
6. Jessica BLASZKA (NED) – World No.3 (5)
7. Li Hui (CHN) – World No.5 (6)
8. Yuki IRIE (JPN) – Yarygin Grand Prix No.1 (Not ranked)
9. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL) – Paris GP No.3 (11)
10. Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
11. Natalya PULKOVSKA (UKR) – Dan Kolov No.2 (9)
12. Alyssa LAMPE (USA) – Rio Test No.3 (12)
13. Nadezhda FEDOROVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
14. Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) – World Cup No.2 (8)
15. Tatyana AMANZHOL (KAZ) – Asia No.3 (10)
16. Anna LUKASIAK (POL) – Paris GP No.1 (nr)
17. Jasmine MIAN (CAN) – Rio Test No.3 (nr)
18. ERDENESUKH Narangerel (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (18)
19. Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) – GGP Final No.3 (16)
20. Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL) – European Games No.2 (14)

53kg – European Games silver medalist Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) got a boost to No.7 with her victory at the Grand Prix of Paris while Lyubov SALNIKOVA (RUS) thumped former world champion Chiho HAMADA (JPN) at the Yarygin Grand Prix as both wrestlers vaulted to No.8 and No.9 in the rankings.

1. Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) – World No.1 (1)
2. Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) – World No.2 (2)
3. Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) – World No.3 (3)
4. ZHONG Xuechun (CHN) – Rio Test No.1 (4)
5. JONG Myong-Suk (PRK) – World No.3 (5)
6. Angela DOROGAN (AZE) – European Games No.1 (6)
7. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) – Paris GP No.1 (13)
8. Lyubov SALNIKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
9. Chiho HAMADA (JPN) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
10. Nadeshda SHUSHKO (BLR) – Paris GP No.3 (9)
11. Maria GUROVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. ERDENECHIMEG Sumiya (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
13. Whitney CONDER (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (13)
14. Nina HEMMER (GER) – German GP No.2 (8)
15. Karima SANCHEZ RAMIS (ESP) – Paris GP No.3 (10)
16. Natalia BUDU (MDA) – Dan Kolov No.2 (19)
17. Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) – Paris GP No.2 (20)
18. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
19. Alma VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) – Pan Am Games No.2 (14)
20. Natalya MALYSHEVA (RUS) – Rio Test No.3 (nr)

55kg – Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) upset teammate Katsiaryna HANCHAR (BLR) in the final of the Paris Grand Prix to climb seven rungs to No.11 in the ranking. Nadeshda TRETYAKOVA (RUS) toppled Asia champion Anri KIMURA (JPN) at the Yarygin Grand Prix to join the rankings at No.12

1. Helen MAROULIS (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) – World No.2 (2)
3. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) – World No.3 (3)
4. Tatyana KIT (UKR) – World No.3 (4)
5. Katsiaryna HANCHAR (BLR) – Paris GP No.2 (5)
6. PANG Qianyu (CHN) – Spanish GP No.3 (6)
7. Natalya SINISHIN (AZE) – European Games No.3 (7)
8. PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
9. Marwa AMRI (TUN) – Poland Open No.1 (8)
10. Anri KIMURA (JPN) – Asia No.1 (9)
11. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) – Paris GP No.1 (18)
12. Nadeshda TRETYAKOVA (RUS) – Yarygin No.1 (nr)
13. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) – European U23 No.1 (12)
14. Bediha GUN (TUR) – European U23 No.5 (13)
15. HAN Kum-Ok (PRK) – Asia No.2 (14)
16. SUNDEV Byambatseren (MGL) – World Cup No.3 (10)
17. Hikari SUGAWARA (JPN) – GGP Final No.3 (15)
18. JONG In-Sun (PRK) – GGP Final No.3 (16)
19. Aishan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ) – Medved Prizes No.3 (17)
20. Viktoria SHULGINA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)

58kg – 2014 European bronze medalist Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) rallied for her first Dan Kolov title after three years as runner-up to climb to No.8 in the rankings, while LI Qian joins the rankings at No.13 with a runner-up in the Rio test event.
 
1. Kaori ICHO (JPN) – World No.1 (1)
2. Petra OLLI (FIN) – World No.2 (2)
3. Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR) – World No.3 (3)
4. Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) – GGP Final No.3 (5)
5. Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ) – GGP Final No.3 (8)
6. Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) – World No.3 (4)
7. Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) – Medved Prizes No.1 (6)
8. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (12)
9. Marianna SASTIN (HUN) – Poland Open No.2 (8)
10. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) – GGP Final No.2 (9)
11. Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) – Pan Am Games No.3 (10)
12. Grace BULLEN (NOR) – European Games No.3 (11)
13. LI Qian (CHN) – Rio Test No.2 (nr)
14. Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) – Rio Test No.3 (16)
15. BAATARJAV Shoovdor (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (20)
16. Anastassia HUCHOK (BLR) – Poland Open No.1 (13)
17. Tatyana LAVRENCHUK (UKR) – European Games No.2 (14)
18. Lyubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) – Rio Test No.3 (nr)
19. Allison RAGAN (USA) – GGP Final No.2 (15)
20. ZHOU Zhangting (CHN) – Spanish GP No.3 (17)

60kg – Dzhanan MANOLOVA (BUL) won all three bouts in a round-robin tournament at Dan Kolov for the title, while 2014 world champion SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) rebounded from a first-round loss to Kaori ICHO (JPN) for a bronze medal.
 
1. Oksana HERHEL (UKR) – World No.1 (1)
2. Dzhanan MANOLOVA (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (2)
3. SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (3)
4. Irina NETREBA (AZE) – Poland Open No.3 (4)
5. Leigh JAYNES (USA) – World No.3 (5)
6. Emese BARKA (HUN) – European Games No.1 (6)
7. LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) – GGP Final No.1 (7)
8. Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) – European Games No.3 (8)
9. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) – European Games No.2 (9)
10. Yulia PRONTSEVICH (RUS) – Yarygin No.1 (nr)
11. Ayaulaylm KASYMOVA (KAZ) – Yarygin No.2 (nr)
12. Victoria BOBEVA (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (11)
13. SUN Yazhen (CHN) – Spanish GP No.3 (10)
14. Natalya FEDOSEEVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Therese PERSSON (SWE) – German GP No.2 (12)
16. Hafize SAHIN (TUR) – European U23 No.3 (13)
17. Jennifer PAGE (USA) – Pan Am No.1 (14)
18. Breanne GRAHAM (CAN) – Pan Am No.2 (15)
19. Kanako MURATA (JPN) – Asia No.2 (16)
20. Yukako KAWAI (JPN) – GGP Final No.3 (17)

63kg – 2014 world champion Yulia TKACH (UKR) appears to have regained form, winning her first title in nearly one year at the Dan Kolov tourney for No.3 in the rankings. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) won at the Schultz Memorial for No.4 while Maria MAMASHUK (BLR) won in Paris for No.6.

1. SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) – World No.1 (1)
2. Risako KAWAI (JPN) – World No.2 (2)
3. Yulia TKACH (UKR) – Dan Kolov No.1 (5)
4. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (4)
5. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (3)
6. Maria MAMASHUK (BLR) – Paris GP No.1 (7)
7. Braxton STONE (CAN) – Pan Am Games No.1 (6)
8. Valeria LAZINSKAYA (RUS) – European Games No.1 (8)
9. Katherine VIDIAUX LOPEZ (CUB) - Pan Am Games No.2 (9)
10. Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) – Rio Test No.1 (nr)
11. WANG Xiaoqian (CHN) – Rio Test No.2 (nr)
12. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) – Yarygin No.1 (nr)
13. Monica MICHALIK (POL) – Paris GP No.2 (15)
14. Ayaka ITO (JPN) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
15. Ekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) – Yarygin GP No.3 (11)
16. XILUO Zhuoma (CHN) – Asia No.1 (12)
17. Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) – German GP No.1 (13)
18. Nadeshda MUSHKA (AZE) – Poland Open No.2 (14)
19. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) – All-Africa Games No.1 (16)
20. Erin CLODGO (USA) – Pan Am Games No.3 (17)

69kg – Two of the most recent world champions won events in January – Aline FOCKEN (GER) in Paris and Alina MAKHINYA (UKR) at the Dan Kolov tourney in Sofia – as the last four world champions crowd into the Top Five of the light heavyweight rankings.

1. ZHOU Feng (CHN) – Rio Test No.1 (4)
2. Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) – Rio Test No.3 (1)
3. Aline FOCKEN (GER) – Paris GP No.1 (3)
4. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) – GGP Final No.2 (2)
5. Alina MAKHINYA (UKR) – European Games No.1 (7)
6. Sara DOSHO (JPN) – World No.3 (5)
7. Dorothy YEATS (CAN) – Rio Test No.2 (9)
8. Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) – GGP Final No.1 (12)
9. OCHIRBAT Nasanburmaa (MGL) – Poland Open No.1 (8)
10. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) – Yarygin GP No.1 (11)
11. Agnieszka WIESZCZEK-KORDUS (POL) – Paris GP No.2 (8)
12. Ilana KRATYSH (ISR) – European Games No.2 (12)
13. Dalma CANEVA (ITA) – Yarygin GP No.2 (15)
14. Maria ACOSTA (VEN) – Paris GP No.3 (18)
15. Martina KUENZ (AUT) – German GP No.2 (13)
16. Enass MOUSTAFA (EGY) – All-Africa Games No.1 (14)
17. Tamyra MENSAH (USA) – Rio Test No.3 (nr)
18. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) – Dan Kolov No.2 (nr)
19. Darima SANZHEEVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
20. Leah FERGUSON (CAN) – German GP No.3 (16)

75kg – European U23 champion Daria OSOCKA (POL) won the Grand Prix of Paris crown and veteran Svetlana SAENKO (MDA) took the Dan Kolov crown in Sofia to edge up slightly in the rankings at 12th and 13th, respectively.

1. Adeline GRAY (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Epp MAE (EST) – GGP Final No.1 (2)
3. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) – World No.3 (4)
4. Erica WIEBE (CAN) – Rio Test No.2 (5)
5. Aline FERREIRA (BRA) – Rio Test No.3 (6)
6. ZHOU Qian (CHN) – World No.2 (3)
7. Andrea OLAYA GUITIERREZ (COL) – Paris GP No.3 (7)
8. ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) – Rio Test No.3 (11)
9. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) – European Games No.2 (8)
10. Hiroe SUZUKI (JPN) – Asia No.1 (10)
11. Justina DISTACIO (CAN) – Pan Am Games No.2 (9)
12. Daria OSOCKA (POL) – Paris GP No.1 (13)
13. Svetlana SAENKO (MDA) – Dan Kolov No.1 (15)
14. Lisset HECHEVARRIA (CUB) – Pan Am Games No.3 (12)
15. Maider UNDA (ESP) – European Games No.3 (14)
16. BADRAKH Odonchimeg (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
17. Alena PEREPELKINA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
18. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) – Poland Open No.1 (16)
19. Guzel MANYUROVA (KAZ) – Spanish GP No.2 (17)
20. OCHIRBAT Burmaa (MGL) – Yarygin No.3 (nr)

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026, Day 6 Live: Freestyle

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 11) -- The Asian Championships enter the final full day in Bishkek with the remaining Freestyle weight classes - 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Iran, after a slightly disappointing day, will look to reach at least four finals if not all five.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | WHO IS GAHREHDAGHI?

13:12: Superstar Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) takes the mat for the first time in the final match of the session. The reigning 125kg world champion and Olympic silver medalist fends off the attacks of a gutsy world U20 champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), scoring three takedowns off counters in a 7-0 victory.

13:01: World silver medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) survives a stiff test from Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), piling up an early lead then gaining a late defensive takedown to notch an 8-5 victory and advance to the 61kg semifinals. Javan gives up a takedown to start the match, but reverses and gains two exposures for a 5-2 lead. The two trade stepouts early in the second period before Hasegawa cuts the gap to 1 with a takedown with 1:30 left. But when he shoots for the potential winning score, Javan deftly leaps over him and gets behind to clinch the victory. 

12:52: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) prevails in his latest encounter with longtime rival Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), scoring a takedown with :04 left for a 4-3 win and a place in the 61kg semifinals. Each wrestler had received an activity point when Almaz Uulu went ahead with a pair of stepouts. But Addullaev connected on a single and reeled in Almaz Uulu for the takedown, which survived the subsequent challenge. In their most recent meeting, Almaz Uulu won 8-0 in the 57kg semifinals at the World Championships.

12:50: AMAN (IND), a former Asian champion at 57kg, takes his time to get going but once he does, he finishes his 61kg quarterfinal 11-0 against Changsu KIM (KOR) and advance to the semifinals.

12:46: Zagreb Ranking Series champion and returning bronze medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN)  comes out with a 2-point exposure from an odd scramble that starts when he jams up a back suplex attempt by Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) in their 125kg quarterfinal. An unsuccessful challenge makes it 3-0, which is how the first period ends. In the second, Sharipov secures a bear hug and attempts a back suplex himself, from which he gets a 2-point takedown. He adds a defensive takedown to chalk up a 7-0 win.

12:42: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) works on a 9-0 victory over Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) at 92kg. Ishiguro never seemed to trouble Azimi, who is a U23 world champion

12:32: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), looking to add to his extensive collection of Asian medals — six overall, including three golds, dating back to 2017 -- overcomes a tough foe in Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) for a 3-0 win at 92kg. Dauletbekov, who took a bronze last year, scores a takedown in the first period and adds a stepout in the second.

12:29: Two-time bronze medalist Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) scores a takedown in each period and that's all he needs for a 5-0 victory over Hade AYIDUSI (CHN) and a place in the 92kg semifinals.

12:25: World champion at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) is ecstatic after beating Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) 7-6 in the 74kg quarterfinals. Aoyagi scored the first takedown of the match to lead 2-0 before a scramble and challenge from Yazdani switches the lead to 4-4 criteria for Yazdani. But Aoyagi with a takedown with 26 seconds left in the bout to take the lead again. Yazdani tries a body throw but Aoyagi blocks him and Yazdani falls on his back. It is initially score four points for Aoyagi but Iran wins another challenge and it scored a stepout for Yazdani on review. Aoyagi, leading 6-5, gives up a stepout while trying to escape but still holds 6-6 criteria. Iran challenge again the last 15 seconds but there is no takedown from Yazdani as he drops the bout 7-6. WIth the win, Aoyagi avenges his loss against Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) from two years ago at 70kg.

12:22: Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), looking to improve on his silver medal from last year in the stacked 74kg weight class, JAIDEEP (IND) takes a fragile lead with an activity point and stepout in the first period. In the second, Toktomambetov fends off everything Jaideep throws at him to snatch a 2-0 win. 

12:15: Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) begins his bid to improve on his silver medal from last year at 86kg with a 12-2 rout of Song Gang JI (PRK). Sakayev opens with a counter lift for 2, and after giving up a takedown, pulls away with a takedown, two exposures and a gut wrench to lead 10-2 at the break. He ends with chest wrap counter 37 seconds in the second period.

12:05: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) has had some heartbreaking moments in recent years. A gold at the Asian Championships can perhaps bring some confidence back to him. He takes the first step towards the title with a 12-2 routing of Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) at 86kg.

12:00: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), a former U17 and U20 world champion, gets a takedown in the final minute to pull off a 2-2 criteria win over Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL) at 125kg with cheers from the crowd. He gets to face world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) next

11:58: Olympic and world bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets his campaign started at 61kg by notching a takedown in each period for a 4-1 victory over returning bronze medalist Wanhao ZOU (CHN).

11:51: Asian Games champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), wrestling for the first time since that win in October 2023, starts off with a 6-2 victory over Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) at 61kg. The match hung in balance with Hasegawa leading 4-2 and Aitakyn attacking non-stop. But Hasegawa got on a double-leg attack and then held Aitakyn in danger for two points to get a 6-2 lead. He managed to hold on to it till the end of the time.

11:49: Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN), an 86kg bronze medalist last year who has moved up to 92kg, gets three gut wrenches off a takedown to finish up a 12-2 win over Punit KUMAR (IND) and advance to the quarterfinals.

11:48: In a clash between last year's Asian U23 bronze medalists at 61kg, Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) dominates, scoring a 4-point takedown en route to a 10-0 win over Batnasan GANKHULEG (MGL) in just under two minutes. 

11:45: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), the world champion and three-time Asian medalist at 70kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 74kg, uses a low single and locks his head between the thighs of 2-2021 bronze medalist Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), then hits a "wishbone" roll to take a 3-0  lead into the break. Aoyagi puts up an impenetrable wall of defense and walks off with a 3-0 win. 

11:36: Asian U23 champion JAIDEEP (IND) gets a takedown and exposure to open a 5-0 lead in the first period against Daegil HAN (KOR), then turns him in the second period for a fall and he's into the 74kg quarterfinals. 

11:27: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) hugs Anil GEDARAA (SRI) as if to apologize after pinning him using a cradle in their 74kg match.

11:20: Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ) breaks a 1-1 deadlock with a single-leg takedown with 59 seconds left in his 79kg qualification-round bout before holding on for a 3-1 win over Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN), a world bronze medalist and Asian silver medalist last year at 79kg. After taking the lead, Shavaev tries to run out the clock but shooting again. Saipudinov desperately tries to break the hold, and eventually gets behind Shavaev, who keeps his knees off the mat. Saipudinov runs him out of the ring, but time had already run out. 

11:14: Song Gang JI (PRK), the heaviest wrestler to represent the DPR Korea at the Asian Championships since 2010, gets off to a roaring start at 86kg. He follows a single-leg takedown with four back-and-forth gut wrenches for a 10-0 win over Madushanka MUDIYANSELAGE (SRI) in 36 seconds. 

11:03: In the opening match on Mat A, brawny 2024 world U23 bronze medalist Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) slams down Weng CHOW (SGP) for a 4-point takedown that gives him a 10-0 win 56 seconds into their qualification round bout at 86kg