BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 8) -- If you wanted to see a trailer of what the World Championships in Belgrade will look like, don't miss the fourth Ranking Series, Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial, in Budapest next.
As nations try to pick their squads for the World Championships, which offer quotas for the Paris Olympics, the Budapest event has added significance along with the medals and the prize money even though the tournament allows two-kilogram weight tolerance.
Freestyle has seen 174 registrations so far while Greco-Roman has 196. Women's wrestling will see 182 wrestlers in action when the competition begins Thursday.
With so much action on three mats, here are a few matchups that you cannot miss in women's wrestling.
50kg
World silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) will be headed to Budapest for her second international tournament of the year. She participated in the Zagreb Open in February, finishing eighth after losing to Mariya STADNIK (AZE).
Dolgorjav has been one of the top 50kg wrestlers since winning the bronze at the 2021 World Championships. She improved to silver at the second edition and remained undefeated in the World Cup.
But Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), who is in the purple patch of her career, will be looking to avenge her loss to Dolgorjav. The Olympic bronze medalist was on her way to a second straight world final in 2022 but Dolgorjav defeated her in the semifinals.
The Belgrade bout saw a fierce battle between the two but Dolgorjav put on a superior defensive performance to notch up a 6-2 win. Having learned her lessons from that loss, Hildebrandt may go for a different strategy if the two meet in Budapest.
Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) is a two-time European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)
53kg
At 53kg, expect some top bouts from the opening round itself. Canada has three wrestlers at this weight class while Poland, China, Hungary, and Ukraine have two each. World champion Dominique PARRISH (USA), Tokyo Olympic medalists Qianyu PANG (CHN) and Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL), big-throwing Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) will be the names to keep an eye on.
One match-up that fans need to keep an eye on is Malmgren facing Pang. The two-time European champion has been making a name for herself since missing a chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, winning the U20 world, two European and a U23 European title.
Pang, on the other hand, has only had two tournaments since winning the silver in Tokyo. She was part of China's World Cup squad and won two of her three outs. She claimed the Asian gold at 55kg in April which marked her return to the top.
With a long break, Pang may be rusty and will have counter Malmgren's powerful attacks from underhook. The match-up pairs two powerful wrestlers with a high percentage of upper-body attacks.
55kg
The last time VINESH (IND) and Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) met, the latter pinned Vinesh after building a lead. That was the Istanbul Ranking Series in February 2022, with Vinesh coming back after a few battles with mental health after a disappointing Tokyo Olympics in which she failed to win a medal and faced public wrath including from the Wrestling Federation of India.
Winchester, who won the gold medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series gold in February, will once again be the favorite as Vinesh has been out of competition since the 2022 World Championships in which won a bronze medal.
However, fans can expect a fierce battle between the two, contrasting the meek affair from Istanbul.
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) is moving down to 57kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)
57kg
The Olympic qualification period always makes wrestlers switch to the Olympic weight class and Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), world champion at 59kg, is moving back to 57kg for Budapest. Nichita has lost one bout, the final of the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series, since 2022. Her dominance has majorly been at 59kg in which she won her third European gold in April.
In Budapest, she will have to face some tests and Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) will be the toughest of them. Hrushyna won the European gold in Zagreb at 57kg and has been one of the best at this weight class since returning from injury in late 2021.
In the last two years, she has lost only to Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Sae NANJO (JPN) and won 11 medals, including eight gold, in as many tournaments.
Hrushyna is known for her leg attacks and mixes them with big throws from standing. Her defense may be a challenge for Nichita who has some incredible skills for big throws and takedowns.
Undoubtedly, the two will be cautious of each other and if they meet on the mat, expect a battle like no other.
62kg
After a disappointing start of the year, finishing 13th in Zagreb, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) returned to the top at 62kg winning gold at Ranking Series in Alexandria and Asian Championships. She will be the favorite to win another gold when she steps on the mat in Budapest at 62kg.
Three months later, she will be in Budapest and can face European champion Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) once again. The two met in the semifinal in Alexandria and Tynybekova barely made it for a 2-0 win.
Koliadenko was stopped in her attacks by Tynybekova who got a point for activity and a lost challenge from her Ukrainian opponent. Tynybekova's defense in that bout frustrated Koliadenko who, most likely, will need to be more attacking from the word go.
Emma BRUNTIL (USA), red, will face Irina RINGACI (MDA) at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)
65kg
Three months before the World Championships, Irina RINGACI (MDA) has decided to continue wrestling at 65kg a weight class she lost at the European Championships.
At the start of 2022, Ringaci had moved from 65kg to 68kg, raising hopes that she will now be permanently in the Olympic weight class.
In Budapest, she will face Emma BRUNTIL (USA), a bout that will offer a lot for wrestling fans. Bruntil has a solid record in Ranking Series, winning medals at four events out of five. She has reached the final of three of them.
Bruntil has shown progressive improvement over the years, most recently winning the USA team spot for the World Championships in Belgrade.
Ringaci has one of the defense and counters from positions. Her strong gut wrench may also trouble Bruntil. Given the two-kilogram weight allowance, Ringaci may be the favorite but don't count Bruntil out of this.
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) won the gold medal at the Zagreb Open in February. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)
68kg
A lot can happen at 68kg but keep an eye on a three-way French battle in Budapest. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), Kendra DACHER (FRA) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), all three eyeing a spot on the World Championships team, will be in Budapest at 68kg.
Larroque, Tokyo Olympian at 68kg, has been the regular at this weight class this year, winning gold at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and Zagreb Open, silver at Ibrahim Moustafa and bronze at the European Championships.
For the 2022 World Championships, Lecarpentier defeated Larroque and booked her spot for Belgrade. She lost to Ami ISHII (JPN) and to Linda MORAIS (CAN) in repechage.
Larroque and Lecarpentier met in the Henri Deglane final in January which the former won. In Zagreb Open in February, Larroque won gold while Lecarpentier won a bronze medal.
Dacher, a U23 world silver medalist from 2021 at 72kg, is moving down to 68kg with the hopes of making it to Belgrade. She was seventh last year in Belgrade and earlier this year, in a stunning drop, moved to 65kg and finished fifth.
Larroque will also look to settle scores with Forrest MOLINARI (USA) who beat her 12-2 in a bloody 68kg final in Alexandria.
76kg
If there is one weight class in women's wrestling in which no one can all the shots, it has to be 76kg. Adeline GRAY (USA) has been the favorite for years but she took a break to give birth to twins, the category has been wide open.
World champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) will be in Budapest with revenge on her mind.
At the World Cup in December, Adar faced Yelena MAKOYED (USA) in the UWW World Team vs the US match and suffered a fall.
Makoyed, who has three Ranking Series gold and is unbeaten internationally, has been a big revelation at 76kh. Just that competition back home in the US is increasingly difficult.
Adar will have to find a way to deal with the pressure Makoyed puts in her leg attacks and then the transitions. The Turkish wrestler was clearly caught off guard by Makoyed's style at the World Cup.
In a bout between two extremely powerful wrestlers, Adar may try a different tactic this time and wait for Makoyed's attacks and counter them.
Even if these two don't meet, world silver medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY), world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST), and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) are also wrestling in Budapest.
