RIO DE JANEIRO (August 17) – Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) opens with former two-time world bronze medalist Natalya SINISHIN (AZE) on Thursday as she targets a fourth Olympic Games gold medal on the final day of women’s wrestling at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

After Wednesday’s weigh-in and draw at Carioca Arena 2, top-seeded Yoshida appears ready to enjoy a less challenging trip to the gold medal final at 53kg as the main challengers have drawn to the lower half of the bracket.

World silver medalist Sofia MATTSSON (SWE), seeded No.2, sits atop the lower half of the bracket and will face world bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) in their opening bout. Helen MAROULIS (USA), the world champion at 55kg, will start in the preliminary bouts.

Meanwhile, three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) faces early challenges at 75kg in her bid to win her first Olympic Games medal.

Gray could face world bronze medalist and European Games champion Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) in the quarterfinals and then either 2013 world champion ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) or second-ranked Erica WIEBE (CAN) in the semifinals.

Her opponent in the gold medal final could be 2014 world silver medalist and local favorite Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) or veteran Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS).

At 63kg, world champion SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) faces potential challenges from 2012 world champion Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) and European champion Maria MAMASHUK (BLR).

Meanwhile, 2014 world champion and Yulia TKACH (UKR) begins in the preliminary matches and could face a rematch with world silver medalist Risako KAWAI (JPN) in the semifinals. Kawai defeated Tkach, 3-0, in the preliminaries in Las Vegas.

Women’s Wrestling 53kg (19 entries)

Preliminary Round
Pr A - JONG Myong-Suk (PRK) v Jillian GALLAYS (CAN)
Pr B - Yulia KHAVALDZHY BLAHINYA (UKR) v Helen MAROULIS (USA)
Pr C - ZHONG Xuechun (CHN) v Nina HEMMER (GER)

Round of 16
Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) v Natalya SINISHIN (AZE)
Isabelle SAMBOU (SEN) v NGUYEN Thi Lua (VIE)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) v Kumari BABITA (IND)
Betzabeth ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN) v Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR)

Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) v Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) v ERDENECHIMEG Sumiya (MGL)
Bediha GUN (TUR) v Winner Pr A
Winner Pr B v Winner PR C

Women’s Wrestling 63kg (19 entries)

Preliminary Round
Pr A – Yulia TKACH (UKR) v Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN)
Pr B – Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) v Marianna SASTIN (HUN)
Pr C – Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) v Hafize SAHIN (TUR)

Round of 16
SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) v Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) v Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)
Yekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) v Maria MAMASHUK (BLR)
Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) v Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)

Risako KAWAI (JPN) v Monika MICHALIK (POL)
Hela RIABI (TUN) v Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
XU Rui (CHN) v Winner Pr A
Winner Pr B v Winner Pr C

Women’s Wrestling 75kg (18 entries)

Preliminary Round
Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) v Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) v Yasemin ADAR (TUR)

Round of 16
Adeline GRAY (USA) v Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL)
Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) v Cynthia VESCAN (FRA)
Erica WIEBE (CAN) v Maria SELMAIER (GER)
ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) v Epp MAE (EST)

Annabel Laure ALI (CMR) v Jarimit WEFFER GUANIPA (VEN)
Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) v Guzel MANYUROVA (KAZ)
Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) v Rio WATARI (JPN)
Winner Pr A v Winner Pr B