CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 19) – Winners at the Grand Prix of Spain were the brightest stars in July, outshining the gold medalists at the World University Games (Universiade) in Kazan, Russia.
Alyssa LAMPE (USA) grabbed the No.1 ranking at 48kg with a win in Madrid while Jessica MacDONALD (CAN) regained the top spot at 51kg. At the same time, Olympic champion Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) tightened her grip on her position as top wrestler at 72kg.
Two more winners in Madrid – Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) – sit at No.2 in the rankings in their respective weight categories. But, that is No.2 behind female wrestling’s only three-time Olympic Games gold medalists -- Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN).
At the Universiade, former world champion Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) retained the top spot at 59kg with her third tournament title of the year and Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) held onto her top ranking at 67kg despite a loss in the final to Sara DOSHO (JPN).
DOSHO has not seen any action internationally since finishing third at the Golden Grand Prix final in Baku last September and joins the rankings at No.6. Her Universaide victory, however, raises hopes that she could become Japan’s first world champion at 67kg in Budapest next month.
Japanese wrestlers have won at least two world titles at each weight -- except 67kg -- since the current seven-weight category system was first utilized in 2002.
Eri TOSAKA (JPN), who is also expected to wrestle in Budapest, broke into the rankings at No.4, following her wins over second-ranked Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) and No.5 Patimat BAGOMEDOVA (AZE) at 48kg.
Olympic bronze medalist Battsetseg SORONZOBOLD (MGL) moved to No.3 at 63kg after dominating the field in Kazan.
Russia’s two female champions in Kazan, Valeria KOBLOVA-ZHOLOBOVA (RUS) and Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), both come in at No.4 after triumphs at 55kg and 72kg.
KOBLOVA was making her first appearance on the mats since taking fifth place at London 2012 and BUKINA, world silver medalist in 2011, is trying to build on her win over VOROBIEVA at the Russian national championships in the spring.
The rankings are listed by the wrestler’s name, country code, most recent or most significant result of this year, and the wrestler’s ranking the previous month.
