Takedown Report

The Full Breakdown On Women’s World Championship Contenders At Each Weight

Women’s freestyle competition begins Monday at the World Championships. Get ready by taking a look at the top contenders at each weight.

Women’s freestyle competition kicks off Monday morning at the World Championships in Belgrade. The United States assembled a lineup loaded with past World champions to contend with global power Japan and the rest of international wrestling’s top talents. 

Here’s a look at the top contenders and wrestlers to watch at each weight: 

50 kilograms

Since winning her first World title in 2017, Japan’s Yui Susaki has never lost to anyone outside her home nation — and she likely won’t be slowing down anytime soon. She’s not the only all-time great in this weight class. Azerbaijan’s Mariia Stadnik is a multiple-time World champion and has the opportunity next year in Paris to become the first wrestler to win five Olympic medals. Though she is 33 and has been less active internationally since the Tokyo Olympics, Stadnik is still a powerful athlete who should not be underestimated. 

Though American Sarah Hildebrandt owns three World medals, she has yet to face Stadnik or Susaki; both matchups will be highly anticipated in Belgrade. Other challengers for medals including Mongolia’s Otgonjargal Dolgarjav, who beat Hildebrandt last year (Hildebrandt avenged that loss recently at the Ranking Series in Budapest) as well as previous World medalists Oksana Livach of Ukraine, Anna Lukasiak of Poland and Emilia Vuc of Romania. 

53 kilograms 

If there’s one name Dom Parrish definitely has circled as she looks to defend her 2022 World title, it’s Japan’s 19-year-old Akari Fujinami. Although a foot injury kept Fujinami from competing last year on the international scene, she was plenty impressive in her Senior-level debut in 2021, notching a World title before going on to defeat 2021 Olympic champion Mayu Shidochi (formerly Mukaida), also of Japan. 

Two other Tokyo Olympic medalists return to this weight class for the first time since 2021: bronze medalist Vanesa Kaladzinskaya, who has been absent due to Belarus’ suspension, and China’s silver medalist Qianyu Pang. Additionally, age-level World champions Lucia Yepez of Ecuador, Antim of India and Jonna Malmgrem of Sweden will look to push the nine previous World medalists who will be searching for Olympic qualification spots in this loaded bracket. 

55 kilograms

Japan’s depth leads to many talented women falling below the radar, but perhaps none are as underrated as 23-year-old Haruna Okuno. Though she’s struggled to crack the senior lineup since 2018, she owns a total of seven World titles from all age-levels (including two at the Senior level). Okuno will be Jacarra Winchester’s greatest challenge as the American looks to win her second World title. Other prominent contenders include Canada’s Karla Godinez, a 2022 World bronze medalist who has split matches with Winchester, 2021 World bronze medalist Katarzyna Krawczyk of Poland and recent U20 World champion Aryna Martynava of Belarus. 

57 kilograms 

In last year’s World finals, Helen Maroulis suffered a rare loss to Japan’s two-time World champion Tsugumi Sakurai, whose tactical performance and impeccable positioning led her to a 3-0 victory. This time, the two are slotted to face each other in the semifinals (should they defeat the other elite athletes in this bracket). Ukraine’s U23 World champion and returning World bronze medalist Alina Akobiia holds the top seed and seems primed to make the finals from the other side. 

The list of elite contenders is long: Anastasia Nichita of Moldova is dropping to the Olympic weight after winning Worlds at 59 kilograms last year. Belarus’ 2020 Olympic finalist Iryna Kurachkina will also return to the World Championships for the first time since Tokyo. Olympic bronze medalist Evelina Nikolova’s high-flying style and uncanny pinning ability makes her a threat to anyone in the weight. Past World medalists Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria and Anhelina Lysak of Poland are both in the primes of their career. And China’s 20-year-old Kexin Hong has been quietly making a name for herself as a dark horse after excellent performances at this year’s Ranking Series. The Olympic weight classes are an absolute gauntlet in Serbia, and this division is certainly no exception. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/full-breakdown-on-womens-world-championship-contenders-at-each-weight

September 20, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized