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

ژو نفر نخست وزن 69 کیلوگرم شد، ایچو همچنان در صدر 58 کیلوگرم رنکینگ زنان

By William May

کورسیر سر ووی (3 فوریه)- ژو فنگ نایب قهرمان جهان از چین تبدیل به پیشتاز جدید وزن 69 کیلوگرم کشتی زنان در اولین رنکینگ اتحادیه جهانی کشتی در سال 2016 شد.

پس از اینکه ناتالیا وروبیوا از روسیه در مسابقات آزمایشی ریو 2016 شکست خورد، ژو به صدر جدول رنکینگ برترین کشتی گیران جهان رسید.

ژو موفق شد دوروتی ییتس قهرمان سابق جوانان جهان از کانادا را با ضربه فنی در فینال شکست دهد و وروبیوا در کشتی نخست مغلوب قهرمان بازیهای پان آمریکن شد.

در این حال دیگر قهرمان جهان در آن طرف دیگر کره زمین شکست خورد اما همچنان در صدر جدول وزنش باقی ماند.

کائوری ایچو قهرمان سه دوره المپیک از ژاپن که 189 مبارزه را به صورت متوالی برنده شده بود و تنها یک باخت در سال 2003 داشت، در فینال وزن 58 کیلوگرم جایزه بزرگ یاریگین در کراسنویارسک روسیه شکست خورد.

 

رده بندی برترین کشتی گیران زن جهان در پایان ماه ژانویه 2016 به ترتیب زیر است:

48 کیلوگرم

1- اری توساکا (ژاپن)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- ماریا استادنیک (آذربایجان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- سان یان یان (چین)- قهرمان مسابقات آزمایشی ریو (7)

4- والنتینا اسلاموا (روسیه)- نفر دوم مسابقات آزمایشی ریو (4)

5- ژنویو موریسون (کانادا)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

6- جسیکا بلازکا (هلند)- نفر سوم جهان (5)

 

53 کیلوگرم

1- سائوری یوشیدا (ژاپن)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- سوفیا ماتسون (سوئد)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- اودونایو آدکورویه (نیجریه)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- ژونگ ژه چون (چین)- قهرمان آسیا (5)

5- جونگ میونگ سوک (کره شمالی)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

6- آنجلا دوروگان (آذربایجان)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (6)

 

55 کیلوگرم

1- هلن مارولیس (آمریکا)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- ایرینا اولوگنوا (روسیه)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- اولینا نیکولوا (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- تاتیانا کیت (اوکراین)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

5- کاتسیارینا هانچار (بلاروس)- نفر دوم جام مدوید (5)

6- پانگ کیان یو (چین)- نفر سوم جایزه بزرگ اسپانیا (6)

 

58 کیلوگرم

1- کائوری ایچو (ژاپن)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- پترا اولی (فنلاند)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- الیف یسیلیرماک (ترکیه)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- یوهانا ماتسون (سوئد)- نفر سوم جایزه بزرگ (5)

5- آییم آبدیلدینا (قزاقستان)- نفر سوم جایزه بزرگ (8)

6- یولیا راتکویچ (آذربایجان)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

 

60 کیلوگرم

1- اوکسانا هرهل (اوکراین)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- ژانان مانولوا (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

3- سوخی تسرنچیمد (مغولستان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

4- ایرینا نتربا (آذربایجان)- نفر سوم اوپن لهستان (5)

5- لی جاینس (آمریکا)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

6- امس بارکا (مجارستان)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (6)

 

63 کیلوگرم

1- سورونزونبولد باتستسگ (مغولستان)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- ریساکو کاوای (ژاپن)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- یولیا تکاچ (اوکراین)- قهرمان دان کلوف (5)

4- آناستاسیا گریگوریوا (لتونی)- قهرمان جام شولتز (4)

5- تایبه یوسین (بلغارستان)- نفر دوم دان کلوف (3)

6- ماریا ماماشوک (بلاروس)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ پاریس (7)

 

69 کیلوگرم

1- ژو فنگ (چین)- قهرمان مسابقات آزمایشی ریو (4)

2- ناتالیا وروبیوا (روسیه)- نفر سوم مسابقات آزمایشی ریو (1)

3- آلین فوکن (آلمان)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ پاریس (3)

4- جنی فرانسون (سوئد)- نفر دوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (2)

5- آلینا ماخینیا (اوکراین)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (7)

6- سارا دوشو (ژاپن)- نفر سوم جهان (5)

 

 

75 کیلوگرم

1- آدلین گری (آمریکا)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- اپ مائه (استونی)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ باکو (2)

3- واسیلیسا مارزالیوک (بلاروس)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

4- اریکا ویبه (کانادا)- نفر دوم مسابقات آزمایشی ریو (5)

5- آلین فریرا (برزیل)- نفر سوم مسابقات آزمایشی ریو (6)

6- ژو کیان (چین)- نفر دوم جهان (3)

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)

قهرمانان و مدال داران جهان در جستجوی پیروزی در روز پایانی مرحله نهایی جایزه بزرگ 2015

By William May

BAKU (November 24) – World champions Haji ALIEV (AZE) and Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) will seek to reprise their triumphs in September before the hometown fans as the 2015 international wrestling season draws near its conclusion with the Golden Grand Prix Final in Baku.

Aliev and Chunayev, Azerbaijan’s lone winners at the world meet in Las Vegas, will be joined in Baku Sports Hall by fellow world champs Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) in freestyle as well as Frank STAEBLER (GER) and Zhan BELENYUK (UKR) in Greco-Roman.

The women’s events, meanwhile, will feature three winners from Las Vegas: Helen MAROULIS (USA), SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL), and Natalya VOROBIEVA (RUS), who won her first world title after winning the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medal.

Add 2014 world champions Yulia TKACH (UKR), SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) and Aline FOCKEN (GER) to the mix, making the GGP Final potentially one of the most competitive women’s meet of the year.

On the eve of wrestling’s richest prize money event, 62 countries have submitted entry forms with some 370 wrestlers expected to vie for the 10,000 USD top prize for each of the categories winners.

Freestyle (Friday, November 27)

With freestyle kicking off the event, the first name that jumps off the entry lists is London 2012 gold medalist at 55kg Djamal OTARSULTANOV (RUS), who is entered at 57kg after two years at 61kg.

With world bronze medalist Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) entered at the non-Olympic category of 61kg, could Otarsultanov be testing the waters at bantamweight for a return to Rio for 2016?

London 2012 silver medalist and the 57kg winner in Las Vegas Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) is not on the entry list for Georgia.

Meanwhile, the most competitive category in freestyle could be a toss-up between 65kg and 74kg, even though both of the winners – Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) -- are not among the entries for Baku.

Soslan RAMONOV (RUS), the 2014 world champion at 65kg, was a bronze medal winner in Las Vegas and is entered with 2013 world bronze medalist Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS).

[[{"fid":"5277","view_mode":"wysiwyg","type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":800,"width":1200,"style":"width: 400px; height: 267px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-wysiwyg"}}]]London 2012 champion Togrul ASGAROV (AZE), gold medal winner at the inaugural European Games in Baku in June, and two-time world bronze medalist GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL), both finished in fifth place in Las Vegas and will be seeking to finish 2015 on a higher note.

At 74kg, with the winners of the last seven world titles – Burroughs and Denis TSARGUSH (RUS) – on the sidelines, Russia has entered two world champions from 70kg, Gazimagomedov (2015) and Khetik TSABOLOV (2014). They will be joined by 2015 silver medalist at 74kg PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) and bronze medal winner Narsingh YADAV (IND).

Meanwhile, Russia enters their current No.3 at 70kg Rasul DZUKAEV while No.2 at 86kg, Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV is ready to step in for two-time world champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV.

Women’s Wrestling (Saturday, November 28)

Japan sends a younger team as its three world champions – Eri TOSAKA (48kg), Saori YOSHIDA (53kg), and Kaori ICHO (58kg) – prepare for the Japanese national championships at the end of December.

In their place, Japan will send a squad of former junior and cadet world champions, including Youth Olympic Games champion Mayu MUKAIDA (53kg) along with junior world champs Miho IGARASHI (48kg) and Masako FURUICHI (69kg).

Sofia MATTSSON (SWE), who has three world silver medals this Olympic cycle – all to Yoshida, may be relieved not to see Yoshida’s name on the Japanese entry list. The 2009 world champion, however, must still overcome a tough field beginning with 55kg champion Maroulis, who is entered at 53kg.

Two-time world bronze medalist JONG Myong-Suk (PRK) and All-African Games winner Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) will challenge in the women’s lightweight category.

[[{"fid":"5466","view_mode":"wysiwyg","type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":800,"width":1200,"style":"width: 400px; height: 267px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-wysiwyg"}}]]Mariya STADNYK (AZE), the darling of this summer’s European Games, will also be seeking to break out from the shadow of her Japanese rivals after two silver medals and a bronze in her last three trips to the world meet. Stadnyk won a world title in 2009 along with Mattsson.

Meanwhile, Soronzonbold could face Tkach in a showdown of world champions at 63kg while Focken will hope for a rematch with Vorobieva at 69kg, after losing by fall in the world semifinals.

Also, China has entered their silver medal-winning pair of ZHOU Feng (69kg) and ZHOU Qian (75kg) while Bulgaria brings in its bronze medal trio of Evelina NIKOLOVA (55kg), Dzhanan MANOLOVA (60kg) and Taybe YUSEIN (63kg).

In addition to all the world medalists, the entry lists also show that all of the gold medal winners from the European Games will make a return trip to Baku, including Hungarian pair Emese BARKA (58kg) and Marianna SASTIN (60kg) along with 2013 world champ Alina MAKHINIA (UKR) and Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR).

Greco-Roman (Sunday, November 29)

Chunayev leads a stellar Greco-Roman line-up into the arena for the final day of GGP events, including two-time Olympic Games silver medalist Rovshan BAYRAMOV (59kg) and two-time world silver medalist Saman TAHMASEBI (85kg).

Vegas silver medalist Bayramov will be joined by 2013 world champion YUN Won-Chol (PRK) and world bronze medal winner Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) at featherweight, while Tahmasebi will seek to improve on his bronze medal in Las Vegas against Belenyuk and silver medalist Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) at middleweight.

The most intensely competitive weight category in Greco-Roman could well be 66kg, where the last three world champions – Staebler, RYU Han-Soo (KOR) and Davor STEFANEK (SRB) -- are entered. Add to the mix European Games champion Artem SURKOV (RUS) and bronze medalist Hasan ALIYEV (AZE), who won the 2010 world title at the age of 20.

[[{"fid":"908","view_mode":"wysiwyg","type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":800,"width":1200,"style":"width: 400px; height: 267px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-wysiwyg"}}]]At 75kg, 2014 world champion at 71kg Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) steps in for Roman VLASOV (RUS), who regained his world title in September. Labazanov will face three-time world silver medalist Mark MADSEN (DEN) and two-time bronze medal winner Andrew BISEK (USA).

The elephant in the room, however, may well be world and Olympic Games champion KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR), who unseated Vlasov in 2013. Kim will seek to atone for an early exit from September’s world meet following a loss in the round of 16.

Turkey’s two world champions Selcuk CEBI (80kg) and Riza KAYAALP (130kg) are not on the entry list for Baku, but the three medal winners behind Cebi – Viktor SASUNOVSKI (BLR), Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) and Yousef GHADERIAN (IRI) – are entered at 80kg.

Aleksander CHERNETSKI (UKR) is the only Las Vegas medalist entered at 130kg and joins Benelyuk and bronze medal winner Dimitri TIMCHENKO (98kg) on the Ukraine entry list.

Schedule

Thursday, November 26

16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination, FS all weight categories
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in, FS all weight categories

Friday, November 27

10:00-14:00 – Elimination and Repechage Rounds, FS all weight categories
13:30-14:00 – Medical Examination, FW all weight categories
14:00-14:30 – Weigh-in, FW all weight categories
17:00-18:00 – Opening Ceremony
18:00-20:00 – Finals and Awards Ceremonies, FS all weight categories

Saturday, November 28

10:00-14:00 - Elimination and Repechage Rounds, FW all weight categories
13:00-14:00 – Medical Examination, GR all weight categories
14:00-14:30 – Weigh-in, GR all weight categories
17:00-19:00 – Finals and Awards Ceremonies, FW all weight categories

Sunday, November 29

10:00-15:00 - Elimination and Repechage Rounds, GR all weight categories
17:00-19:00 - Finals and Awards Ceremonies, GR all weight categories

Lutte gréco-romaine (Dimanche 29 novembre)

Chunayev mènera une belle équipe dans l'arène lors du dernier jour de compétition. Nous retrouverons notamment le double médaillé d'argent des Jeux Olympiques Rovshan BAYRAMOV (59kg) et le double médaillé d0argent au niveau mondial Saman TAHMASEBI (85kg).

Le médaillé d'argent de Vegas Bayramov sera rejoint par le champion du monde de 2013 YUN Won-Chol (PRK)  et par le médaillé de bronze au niveau mondial Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ). Tahmasebi tentera de faire mieux que la médaille de bronze qu'il avait remportée à Las Vegas face à Belenyuk et face au médaillé d'argent  Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB).

La catégorie de poids la plus compétitive en lutte gréco-romaine sera surement celle de 66 kg, ou nous retrouverons les trois champions du monde Staebler, RYU Han-Soo (KOR) et Davor STEFANEK (SRB). Le champion des Jeux d'Europe  Artem SURKOV (RUS)  et le médaillé de bronze Hasan ALIYEV (AZE) (qui a remporté le titre mondial en 2010 à l'âge de 20 ans) seront également présents.

A 75 kg, le champion du monde de 2014 à 71 kg Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS)  remplacera VLASOV (RUS), qui a regagné son titre mondial en septembre. Labazanov affrontera le triple médaillé d'argent Mark MADSEN (DEN ainsi que le double médaillé de bronze Andrew BISEK (USA).

Mais ce sera probablement le champion du monde et champion olympique KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR) qui sera au centre de l'attention. Kim, qui a battu Vlasov en 2013, tentera de rattraper sa défaite rapide aux Championnats du monde de septembre. Les deux champions du monde de Turquie Selcuk CEBI (80kg) et Riza KAYAALP (130kg) ne sont pas inscrits à la compétition, mais les trois médaillés Viktor SASUNOVSKI (BLR), Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) et Yousef GHADERIAN (IRI) sont inscrits à 80 kg.

Aleksander CHERNETSKI (UKR) est le seul médaillé de Las Vegas inscrit à 130 kg, et il rejoint Benelyuk et le médaillé de bronze Dimitri TIMCHENKO (98kg)  dans l'équipe d'Ukraine.

Programme

Jeudi 26 novembre
16:00-17:00 – Examen médical, LL toutes catégories de poids
17:15-17:45 – Pesée, LL toutes catégories de poids

Vendredi 27 novembre

10:00-14:00 – Elimination et Repêchage, LL toutes catégories de poids
13:30-14:00 – Examen médical, LF toutes catégories de poids
14:00-14:30 – Pesée, LF toutes catégories de poids
17:00-18:00 – Cérémonie d'Ouverture
18:00-20:00 – Finales et remises des prix, LL toutes catégories de poids

Samedi 28 novembre

10:00-14:00 - Elimination et Repêchage, LF toutes catégories de poids
13:00-14:00 – Examen médical, GR toutes catégories de poids
14:00-14:30 – Pesée, GR toutes catégories de poids
17:00-19:00 – Finales et remises des prix, LF toutes catégories de poids

Dimanche 29 novembre

10:00-15:00 - Elimination et Repêchage, GR toutes catégories de poids
17:00-19:00 - Finales et remises des prix, GR toutes catégories de poids