Larroque Upends Fransson, Juniors Advance in Women’s March Rankings

By William May

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (March 8) – Junior world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) upset local favorite Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) at the Klippan Ladies Open in February as younger wrestlers continued their advance in the United World Wrestling rankings for women’s wrestling.

Larroque’s victory at 69kg over Rio 2016 bronze medalist Fransson in Klippan was her second triumph of 2017 and lifted the 18-year-old to No.7 after spending the second half of 2016 ranked between 16th-19th at 63kg.

At light heavyweight, Larroque falls in behind the four Olympic Games medalists, including Fransson, as well as Schultz Memorial winner at 75kg Masako FURUICHI (JPN), a three-time junior world champ who is eyeing a move to the heavyweight for Tokyo 2020.

Meanwhile, cadet world champ Yui SUSAKI (JPN) continued her climb through the flyweight rankings with a victory in Klippan, lifting her to No.5 at 48kg, while teammate Haruna OKUNO (JPN) went from unranked to No.9 at 53kg with three technical falls and a 3-2 win over 2012 world champ Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR).

From the junior ranks, world champ Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) debuts at No.9 after a taking third place at 58kg following hard-fought semifinal loss to Yarygin Grand Prix winner Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ).

Despite the success of the younger wrestlers in February, the biggest move of the month was recorded by Valeria LAZINSKAYA (RUS), who went from unranked to No.7 at 63kg after denying Petra OLLI (FIN) a fifth straight Klippan title in the women’s middleweight final.

Lazinskaya, a European Games gold medalist in June 2015, appeared to be in a slight slump since finishing 24th at the Las Vegas world championships. She slipped out of the rankings in January after an eighth-place finish at the Yarygin Grand Prix.

Also at the women’s winter classic, Olli defeated Rio 2016 silver medalist Maria MAMASHUK (BLR) in her opening bout. Other medalists to stumble in Klippan were Fransson, bronze medalist Monika MICHALIK (POL) and gold medalist Erica WIEBE (CAN).

Wiebe became the first of the six Rio 2016 gold medalists to suffer a loss, coming up short, 10-7, in a rally against rival Justina DISTACIO (CAN) in the 75kg final.

The lone Rio 2016 medalist to survive in Klippan with her record intact was silver medalist and second-ranked Valerie KOBLOVA-ZHOLOBOVA (RUS), who won a pair of bouts at 58kg and accepted an injury default from Tynybekova 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 – Pan American champion Jasmine MIAN (CAN) returned to action after Rio 2016 and rolled to a second place in Klippan Open with three one-sided wins to return to the rankings at No.14.

1. Eri TOSAKA (JPN) – Rio OG No.1 (1)
2. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) – Rio OG No.2 (2)
3. SUN Yanan (CHN) – Rio OG No.3 (3)
4. Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL) – Rio OG No.3 (4)
5. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) – Klippan Open No.1 (7)
6. Valerie CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) – Klippan Open No.3 (9)
7. Daria LEKSINA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (11)
8. Victoria ANTHONY (USA) – GGP Final No.3 (8)
9. Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) – Rio OG No.5 (5)
10. Jyldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) – Rio OG No.5 (6)
11. Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (12)
12. Miho IGARASHI (JPN) – GGP Final No.2 (13)
13. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL) – Poland Open No.2 (10)
14. Jasmine MIAN (CAN) – Klippan Open No.2 (Not Ranked)
15. Jessica BLASZKA (NED) – Paris GP No.1 (18)
16. Haley AUGELLO (USA) – Rio OG No.9 (14)
17. Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) – Sirakov-Iliev Int’l No.1 (nr)
18. Alina VUC (ROU) – World Military No.1 (15)
19. Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) – World Military No.2 (16)
20. KIM Hyon-Gyong (PRK) – Ulaanbaatar OG Qualifier No.1 (17)

53kg – Paris Grand Prix titlist Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) dropped her opening bout in Klippan to eventual champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN) but stormed back with three one-sided wins for third place and No.6 in the rankings.

1. Helen MAROULIS (USA) – Rio OG No.1 (1)
2. Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) – Rio OG No.2 (2)
3. Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) – Rio OG No.3 (3)
4. Natalya SINISHIN (AZE) – Rio OG No.3 (4)
5. ZHONG Xuechun (CHN) – Rio OG No.5 (5)
6. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) – Klippan Open No.3 (8)
7. Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) – GGP Final No.1 (7)
8. Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) – Rio OG No.5 (6)
9. Haruna OKUNO (JPN) – Klippan Open No.1 (nr)
10. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) – Klippan No.2 (nr)
11. Samantha STEWART (CAN) – Paris GP No.2 (10)
12. Nadeshda SHUSHKO (BLR) – Paris GP No.2@55 (14)
13. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) – Klippan Open No.3 (nr)
14. Brianne BARRY (CAN) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (nr)
15. JONG Myong-Suk (PRK) – Rio OG No.7 (9)
16. Nina HEMMER (GER) – Spanish GP No.3 (11)
17. Irina KURACHKINA (BLR) – Europe No.2 (12)
18. Bediha GUN (TUR) – World University No.1 (13)
19. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (19)
20. ERDENECHIMEG Sumiya (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (20)

55kg – Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) defeated compatriot Katsiaryna HANCHAR (BLR), 9-1, in the Klippan final for No.5 in the rankings as three wrestlers from Belarus crowded onto the medals podium along with Paris Grand Prix winner Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN).

1. Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) – World No.1 (1)
2. Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) – World No.2 (2)
3. DAVAASUKH Otgontsetseg (MGL) – World No.3 (3)
4. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) – Paris GP No.1 (5)
5. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) – Klippan Open No.1 (7)
6. Katsiaryna HANCHAR (BLR) – Klippan Open No.2 (8)
7. Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ) – World No.3 (4)
8. Tatyana KIT (UKR) – Poland Open No.1 (6)
9. Olena KREMZER (UKR) – European U23 No.1 (9)
10. Sae NANJO (JPN) – Yarygin GP No.1 (10)
11. Nina MENKENOVA (RUS) – GGP Final No.2 (11)
12. Aleksandra ANDREEVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (12)
13. PANG Qianyu (CHN) – Asia No.1 (13)
14. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) – Yarygin GP No.2 (14)
15. Iulia LEORDA (MDA) – World University No.3 (15)
16. Roksana ZASINA (POL) – Poland Open No.2 (16)
17. Becka LEATHERS (USA) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (nr)
18. ALTANTSETSEG Battsetseg (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (18)
19. Jacqueline SCHELLIN (GER) – World Military No.3 (19)
20. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) – GGP Final No.3 (20)

58kg – Paris Grand Prix winner Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) added a bronze medal from the Klippan Open to bound from 16th to No.7 in the rankings while junior world champ Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) enters the rankings at No.9 after winning a bronze medal in Sweden for a second year in a row.

1. Kaori ICHO (JPN) – Rio OG No.1 (1)
2. Valeria KOBLOVA-ZHOLOBOVA (RUS) – Rio OG No.2 (2)
3. Marwa AMRI (TUN) – Rio OG No.3 (3)
4. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) – Yarygin GP No.1 (5)
5. Sakshi MALIK (IND) – Rio OG No.3 (4)
6. PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.1@63 (6)
7. Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) – Klippan Open No.3 (16)
8. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (12)
9. Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) – Klippan Open No.3 (nr)
10. Grace BULLEN (NOR) – GGP Final No.1 (11)
11. Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) – Rio OG No.5 (7)
12. Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) – German GP No.1 (8)
13. Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR) – Rio OG No.9 (9)
14. Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) – Pan America No.1 (10)
15. ZHOU Zhangting (CHN) – Cerro Pelado Int’l No.1 (nr)
16. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) – Europe No.3 (13)
17. Lyubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) – German GP No.3 (14)
18. Yaquelin ESTORNELL (CUB) – GGP Final No.2 (18)
19. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) – Flatz Open No.1 (20)
20. Akie HANAI (JPN) – Klippan Open No.5 (nr)

60kg – Yarygin runner-up Yulia PRONTSEVICH (RUS) edged cadet world champ Atena KODAMA (JPN) in her opening bout then rolled up a pair of technical falls to claim the 60kg crown in Klippan and No.8 in the rankings.

1. PEI Xingru (CHN) – World No.1 (1)
2. Allison RAGAN (USA) – World No.2 (2)
3. Emese BARKA (HUN) – World No.3 (3)
4. Petra OLLI (FIN) – Klippan Open No.2@63 (7)
5. Yui SAKANO (JPN) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (6)
6. Linda MORAIS (CAN) – World No.3 (4)
7. Ayaulaylm KASYMOVA (KAZ) – World No.5 (5)
8. Yulia PRONTSEVICH (RUS) – Klippan Open No.1 (10)
9. Oksana HERHEL (UKR) – Europe No.2 (8)
10. Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) – Yarygin GP No.1 (9)
11. Ayaka Ito (JPN) – Yarygin GP No.3@63 (17)
12. Zhargalma TSYRENOVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (19)
13. Ulyana TUKURENOVA (RUS) – Klippan Open No.2 (nr)
14. Tatyana OMELCHENKO (AZE) – European U23 No.1 (12)
15. BAATARJAV Shoovdor (MGL) – Poland Open No.2 (11)
16. Veronika IVANOVA (BLR) – World University No.3 (16)
17. Therese PERSSON (SWE) – German GP No.2 (13)
18. Laura MERTENS (GER) – World No. 7 (15)
19. Gabriella SLEISZ (HUN) – Klippan Open No.3 (nr)
20. Maria MATYUSHENKO (RUS) – Sirakov-Iliev Int’l No.1 (nr)

63kg – Rio 2016 Olympian XU Rui (CHN) rolled over four opponents, including Pan Am Games silver medalist Yaquelin ESTORNELL (CUB), to snare her first international crown at the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba and climb to No.6 in the rankings.

1. Risako KAWAI (JPN) – Rio OG No.1 (1)
2. Maria MAMASHUK (BLR) – Rio OG No.2 (2)
3. Ekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) – Rio OG No.3 (3)
4. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (5)
5. Yulia TKACH (UKR) – GGP Final No.1 (7)
6. XU Rui (CHN) – Cerrado Pelado No.1 (8)
7. Valeria LAZINSKAYA (RUS) – Klippan Open No.1 (nr)
8. Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) – Klippan Open No.3 (11)
9. Monica MICHALIK (POL) – Rio OG No.3 (4)
10. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) – Europe No.1 (9)
11. SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) – Poland Open No.3 (10)
12. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (14)
13. Marianna SASTIN (HUN) – GGP Final No.3 (13)
14. Hafize SAHIN (TUR) – Rio 2016 OG No.8 (12)
15. Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) – GGP Final No.3 (17)
16. Anzhela FOMENKA (RUS) – World University No.1 (18)
17. Moa NYGREN (SWE) – Paris GP No.2 (19)
18. Kriszta INCZE (ROU) – World University No.2 (20)
19. WANG Xiaoqian (CHN) – Cerro Pelado No.1 (nr)
20. Janet SOVERO NINO (PER) – Cerro Pelado No.2 (nr)

69kg – Cadet world champion Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) is making some noise of her own in the senior events, earning No.17 in the rankings with a fifth place at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January and the title at the Sirakov-Iliev International in Bulgaria.

1. Sara DOSHO (JPN) – Rio OG No.1 (1)
2. Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) – Rio OG No.2 (2)
3. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) – Rio OG No.3 (3)
4. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) – Rio OG No.3 (4)
5. Masako FURUICHI (JPN) – GGP Final No.1 (7)
6. Tamyra MENSAH (USA) – Yarygin GP No.1 (8)
7. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) – Klippan Open No.1 (15@63)
8. Enas AHMED (EGY) – Rio OG No.5 (5)
9. Dorothy YEATS (CAN) – Rio OG No.5 (6)
10. OCHIRBAT Nasanburmaa (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.2 (11)
11. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) – Yarygin GP No.3 (13)
12. Buse TOSUN (TUR) – World University No.1 (10)
13. Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) – Klippan Open No.3 (nr)
14. Aline FOCKEN (GER) – German GP No.1 (9)
15. Alina MAKHINYA (UKR) – Europe No.3 (14)
16. SHARKUU Tumentsetseg (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (15)
17. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) – Sirakov-Iliev Int’l No.1 (20)
18. Signe Marie STORE (NOR) – Paris GP No.2 (17)
19. Olivia DIBACCO (CAN) – Schultz Memorial No.1
20. Ilana KRATYSH (ISR) – Paris GP No.3 (16)

75kg – Epp MAE (EST) and Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS), runners-up at events in January, both grabbed bronze medals at the Klippan Open to climb to No.7 and No.12 in the rankings, respectively.

1. Erica WIEBE (CAN) – Rio OG No.1 (1)
2. Guzel MANYUROVA (KAZ) – Rio OG No.2 (2)
3. ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) – Rio OG No.3 (3)
4. Justina DISTACIO (CAN) – Klippan Open No.1 (10)
5. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) – Rio OG No.3 (4)
6. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) – Rio OG No.5 (5)
7. Epp MAE (EST) – Paris GP No.2 (12)
8. Cynthia VESCAN (FRA) – Paris GP No.1 (11)
9. Laure ALI ANNABEL (CMR) – Rio OG No.5 (6)
10. Aline FERREIRA (BRA) – World Military No.1 (8)
11. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) – Europe No.1 (9)
12. Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (17)
13. Elena PEREPELKINA (RUS) – GGP Final No.3 (16)
14. Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) – Paris GP No.3 (13)
15. Andrea OLAYA GUITIERREZ (COL) – Poland Open No.2 (14)
16. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) – Europe No. 3 (15)
17. QIANDEGENCHAGAN Qiandegenchagan (CHN) - GGP Final No.1 (18)
18. GANOCHIR Urtnasar (MGL) - Yarygin GP No.1 (19)
19. Kristina SHUMOVA (RUS) – Sirakov-Iliev Int’l No.1 (nr)
20. PALIHA Paliha (CHN) – Cerro Pelado Int’l No.1 (nr)