Preview: Japan Targets Women’s Wrestling Crown at World Championships

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 19) -- You’d have to go all the way back to 2012 to get to a World Championships where Japan didn’t walk away with the team title in Women's Wrestling and it will be looking to maintain that streak into 2026. Japan fly into Astana with a strong collection of gold-medal contenders, with Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN) all bidding to stand on the top of their respective podiums.

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The quartet gives Japan a formidable spine which will be needed given that the remainder of their squad is relatively inexperienced on the senior world stage.

Japan’s top challenge will likely come in the form of the United States. 35-year-old Helen MAROULIS (USA), already a four-time world champion, remains one of the most experienced wrestlers in the field and will be looking to add another title to her collection. Maroulis will be the lynchpin of a relatively young squad that includes Everest LEYDECKER (USA), Morgan TURNER (USA), Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) who in turn will be expected to form the core of American squads in the years to come.

Point to Prove for Susaki

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will be one of the biggest attractions in Astana. A four-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, Brand Susaki is still rebuilding the bit of aura that was lost after the disappointment of Paris where she fell to a bronze-medal finish. Her return to international competition at the Asian Championships in April was emphatic: she won gold without conceding a point.

Susaki won gold at the Asian Games with a similarly blemish free campaign. The challenge for the field in Astana would be to make Susaki work harder. Although neither the DPR Korea's reigning world champion Myong-gyong WON (PRK) nor compatriot – Asian Games silver medallist -- Son-hyang KIM (PRK) are entered, Susaki will face a field that includes Oksana LIVACH (UKR), a two time European champion, and Paris bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN).

Kiyooka in Competitive 53kg

Recently crowned Asian Games champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) heads into the World Championships as one of the top contenders. But 53kg could end up being be one of the more competitive categories. Jin ZHANG (CHN) who beat Kiyooka at the Asian Championships earlier this year will be bidding do a repeat and make up for her bronze finish at the Asian Games. Last year’s silver medallist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and European champion Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) also could make a deep run. 

Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), a two-time fifth-placer, will be hoping to win her long evasive World Championships medal for Sweden.

Oh Leading 55kg

Kyong Ryong OH (PRK), one of two DPR Korea wrestlers in the women’s category, is unbeaten this season and will be looking to retain the title she won in Zagreb last year. Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS), who lost to Oh in last year's final is the current world number 1 and will be looking to make amends after a disappointing 7th place finish at the European Championships this year. 

After exploits at the age-group World Championships, 19-year-old Everest LEYDECKER (USA), will be looking to make a name for herself. Leydecker had an impressive year, winning the Zagreb Open, Pan American championships, U20 World Championships before taking bronze at the U23 World Championships a week ago.

Maroulis vs Challengers

Helen MAROULIS (USA) remains the standout name at 57kg. The 35-year-old won her fourth world title in 2025, defeating Il Sim SON (PRK) in the final. Her longevity at the top of the sport is remarkable but she will be tested by a younger field headed by Kexin HONG (CHN). The 23-year-old is in red hot form, coming into the World Championships unbeaten across three separate tournaments including the Asian Championships and Asian Games.

Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) will be eager to make her mark for Japan at her first World Championships, while Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) has the capacity to trouble the leading contenders.

New Face at 59kg

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) isn’t there to defend her title from 2025, which means Astana won’t see any clear favourites in the weight category. Mengyu XIE (CHN) is the reigning Asian champion at the weight but hasn’t had the same success in her two other competitions this year. 

In Onishi’s absence Japanese hopes will be carried by Natsuki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) who is coming off a bronze at the U23 World Championships. Amongst the contenders for the podium will be Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) who added European gold to the world silver she had won at this weight last year. MANISHA (IND) too will back her chances coming off two Ranking series wins this year.

Ozaki vs Bullen Headlines 62kg

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is among Japan’s strongest medal prospects in Astana. She’s won gold at the Asian Games, Asian Championships and Zagreb Open this year, dropping all of four points across all those tournaments. While Ozaki is the player to beat, looking to make things hard for her will be Grace BULLEN (NOR) and Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) -- gold and silver medalists at this year's European Championships respectively. NEHA (IND) will also be looking to make her mark in a category with considerable depth.

Stacked 65kg

Contenders from Japan, the DPR Korea and the United States will all believe they have a chance to stand on the top of the podium in the 65kg class. Alina KASABIEVA (RUS), ranked world number 1 will be looking to upgrade from the silver medal she won at Zagreb last year but will have to get through a tough field.

Nana IKEHATA (JPN) is coming off a silver at this year's Asian Championships just as Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK), albeit at a lighter weight. Irina RINGACI (MDA), bronze medal winner from 2025 and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), gold medallist at the Muhamet Malo ranking series will also be pushing for the podium.

Ishii Favourite at 68kg

World champion Ami ISHII (JPN) arrives as one of the most compelling contenders in the women’s competition. She won the 68kg title at the Asian Games, beating Sol Gum PAK (PRK), 7-2, in the final, after a series of impressive performances against leading opposition. She also defeated Jia LONG (CHN) in the semifinals, pinning her after building a lead. Long will be among the wrestlers hoping to reverse that result in Astana.

Kennedy BLADES (USA), the returning bronze medalist from Zagreb, will be looking to improve on a relatively average season this year. Double Olympic medallist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and Nesrin BAS (TUR), silver medallist in the 72kg category at Zagreb last year, are other serious contenders.

Hometown Hopes at 72kg

The hopes of the home nation of Kazakhstan will be carried by Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ). But although the 30-year-old is a four time world medallist at this weight, her recent form has been less than encouraging. She took gold at the Muhamet Malo Ranking series at the start of the year but failed to medal at the Asian Championships.

Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), gold medallist at this years European championships and Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) who took silver in the same competition are expected to push for a podium finish as is Zelu LI (CHN), bronze medalist from last year. Buse TOSUN (TUR), a 2023 world champion at 68kg, can be a threat at 72kg as well.

Medet Kyzy Eyes Upgrade

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be one of the main attractions at 76kg. A world silver medallist and one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the category, she will be aiming to win the world title after losing to Genesis REASCO (ECU) in the 2025 final. 

Reasco is not returning to defend her title, so the anticipated rematch will have to wait. Medet Kyzy will face competition from Milaimy MARIN (CUB), bronze winner at this weight both at last year's World Championships as well as the Paris Olympics, European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) and Dymond GUILFORD (USA).

Recently crowned U20 world champion KAJAL (IND) will be amongst India’s best medal prospects in women’s wrestling at Astana.