KLIPPAN, Sweden (February 12) – Eleven former and reigning world champions, along with a host of future Olympic Games hopefuls, journey to southern Sweden for their first major test of the year at the Klippan Ladies Open, February 13-16.

Swedish world champions Sofia MATTSSON (55kg) and Jenny FRANSSON (69kg) lead the parade of world and continental medalists at the Klippan Hall of Sport along with five-time world champ Stanka ZLATEVA (BUL) and 2014 winner Yulia TKACH (UKR).

Mattsson won her world title in 2009 at 51kg and has finished with silver medals at the last three world meets -- twice behind Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) at 55kg in 2013 and at 53kg last September. Mattsson, who will be seeking her third Klippan crown, is entered at 55kg.

Fransson, meanwhile, won the world crown at 72kg in 2012, following the London 2012 Olympic Games, and won last year’s Golden Grand Prix Final before finishing fifth place at the Tashkent world meet at 69kg. 

Fransson faces challenges from Asian Games gold medalist ZHOU Feng (CHN) and junior world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN), who finished with a bronze medal in Klippan last year in her first senior-level competition.

Among the eight senior weight categories, 48kg will be the most competitive with four former world champions entered.

Mariya STADNYK (AZE), the 2009 world champion at 48kg, is also the defending champion in Klippan.  Stadnyk will try to reverse an upset loss to eventual world silver medalist Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) in the Tashkent semifinals last September

Joining Stadnyk at 48kg will be world champs Clarissa CHUN (USA, 2008), Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR, 2012) and 2013 winner at 51kg SUN Yanan (CHN), fresh from her technical fall triumph over Matkowska in the finals of the recent Paris Grand Prix.

Into the fray at 48kg, Japanese head coach Shoko YOSHIMURA sends three-time cadet world champion Kika KAGATA (JPN) and 2014 winner at 46kg Miho IGARASHI (JPN), both making their international debut at the senior level.

In the other senior-junior categories:

53kg – Asian Games bronze medalist ZHONG Xuechun (CHN) seeks to follow-up on her win at the Paris Grand Prix, but faces challenges from former European champion Roksana ZASINA (POL) and Yarygin Grand Prix runner-up and Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN).

58kg – A competitive weight led by 2013 world bronze medalist Emese BARKA (HUN) and Asian Games bronze medal winner Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). Add Paris finalists ZHOU Zhangting (CHN) and Joice SILVA (BRA) to the mix as well as Youth Olympic Games champion Grace BULLEN (NOR), also making her debut at the senior level.

60kg – Defending champion Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) won the 2009 world title at 59kg and grabbed a bronze medal at London 2012 at 55kg. Petra OLLI (FIN) has two Klippan crowns at 59kg and 58kg. Yarygin winner Anastasiya HUCHOK (BLR), European champion Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) and world bronze medalist Taybe YUSEIN (BUL).
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63kg – Yulia TKACH (UKR) returns to action after her world title run in September and is joined by 2011 world champion XILUO Zhuoma (CHN), seeking to improve on her third place two weeks ago in Paris. Two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) and world bronze medal winner Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) are always ready to add fireworks.

75kg – Joining Zlateva in Klippan will be 2013 world champ ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) and 2014 silver medalist Aline FERREIRA (BRA), both seeking to make up ground after early losses to Epp MAE (EST) in Paris. Defending champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) will seek a third straight tourney triumph after wins at the Nordhagen Classics and Yarygin Grand Prix.

With some entries trickling in, close to 300 wrestlers from some 30 countries are expected to compete in the three-day event, which also features competition in the cadet division for wrestlers 15-17 years old.

Three 2014 world champions – Yumeka TANABE (JPN), Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) – are expected to lace up the shoes for the cadet competition Friday evening and Saturday morning. 

Schedule

Friday, February 13
15:30-16:00  Weigh-in cadets, all categories
16:00-16:30  Weigh-in junior-seniors, all senior categories
18:00            Preliminary bouts, cadets

Saturday, February 14 
9:00-12:00   Final bouts
13:00           Preliminary bouts, junior-seniors
17:00           Preliminary bouts, junior-seniors

Sunday, February 15
10:00          Bouts, seniors
13:00          Finals, seniors