Tunisia’s Amri Makes History, Takes Over Top Spot at 55kg in Female Wrestling
By William May

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 6) – Five-time Africa champion and two-time Olympian Marwa AMRI (TUN) bagged a pair of gold medals in July and became the first wrestler from an African country to top the FILA World Rankings in any of the three Olympic disciplines.

Amri, 25, struck gold at the Grand Prix of Spain early in the month with a win over hometown favorite Karima SANCHEZ RAMIS (ESP). Two weeks later Amri prevailed at the Olympic tourney in Greece to become the top-ranked wrestler at 55kg in female wrestling.

Amri’s two wins give her five titles in 2014, including triumphs at the prestigious Klippan Ladies Open in February and the increasingly competitive African championship in March. The only blemish of her 2014 campaign is a bronze medal at City of Sassari Tournament in May.

Meanwhile, in the other seven categories, the top-ranked wrestlers were unchanged but 2012 world champion Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) snared a pair of gold medals to claim the No.2 ranking at 69kg, while Hiroe SUZUKI (JPN) won at the Golden Grand Prix Final to claim the second spot at 75kg.

Fransson defeated former No.3 Aline FOCKEN (GER) for the title in Spain and then made the big leap to No.2 from 13th place with a win at Olympia. Suzuki, meanwhile, forged a criteria win over former No.1 Adeline GRAY to move into the second spot behind Erica WIEBE (CAN).

The only No.1s to win in July were Maria STADNYK (AZE) and Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE), wrestling before the home crowd in Baku, and Wiebe – a double winner at the student world championships and the Commonwealth Games.

In addition to the big moves made by Fransson and Suzuki, Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) also won at the student championships and again in Glasgow to vault from No.16 to No.8 at 63kg.

The rankings are listed by the wrestler’s name, country code, the wrestler’s most notable or most recent result, and the wrestler’s position in the previous rankings.

48kg – Victoria ANTHONY (USA) notched three falls in the Pan American championships and then receives an injury default from Canada Cup winner Jessica MacDONALD (CAN) for the title and No.5 in the rankings.

Yarygin Grand Prix winner Yuki IRIE (JPN) edged Klippan Open bronze medalist Alyssa LAMPE (USA) in the first round of the Golden Grand Prix Final and outlasted Asia champion Tatyana AMANZHOL-BAKATYUK (KAZ), 13-10, in the bout for third place and No.6 in the 48kg poll.

1. Mariya STADNYK (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (1)
2. Eri TOSAKA (JPN) – World No.1 (2)
3. SUN Yanan (CHN) – World Cup No.3 (3)
4. Jessica MacDONALD (CAN) – Canada Cup No.1 (6)
5. Victoria ANTHONY (USA) – Pan America No.1 (7)
6. Yuki IRIE (JPN) – GGP Final No.3 (9)
7. Alyssa LAMPE (USA) – Klippan Open No.3 (4)
8. Tatyana AMANZHOL-BAKATYUK (KAZ) – Asia No.1 (5)
9. ERDENESUKH Narangerel (MGL) – GGP Final No.3 (13)
10. Frederika PETERSSON (SWE) – Europe No.3 (8)
11. Jasmine MIAN (CAN) – World University No.1 (not ranked)
12. Natalya PULKOVSKA (UKR) – Europe No.2 (10)
13. Elena VOSTRIKOVA (RUS) – GGP Final No.2 (nr)
14. Vinesh VINESH (IND) – Commonwealth Games No.1 (nr)
15. Nadeshda FEDOROVA (RUS) – Europe No.3 (12)
16. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL) – Canada Cup No.2 (17)
17. Mayelis CARIPA CASTILLO (VEN) – CAC Games No.2 (18)
18. Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (14)
19. Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) – Spanish GP No.3 (15)
20. Mercedesz DENES (HUN) – European Jrs No.3 (19)

53kg – Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) won her first event of 2014 at the Golden Grand Prix Final, ending a run of silver medals in three previous tournaments this year, and edged up to No. 5 in the rankings.

Former Youth Olympic Games silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) grabbed the first gold medal of her international career with a technical fall over Amy FEARNSIDE (USA) in the final of the World University Championships to debut in the rankings at No.18.

1. Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) – World No.1 (1)
2. Maria GUROVA (RUS) – Europe No.1 (2)
3. Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) – Spanish GP No.1 (3)
4. Helen MAROULIS (USA) – Austrian Open No.1 (4)
5. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) – GGP Final No.1 (7)
6. ZHONG Xuechun (CHN) – Asia No.1 (5)
7. Natalia BUDU (ROU) – Europe No.3 (6)
8. Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) – German GP No.1 (8)
9. Natalya MALYSHEVA (RUS) – European Jr No.1 (9)
10. Nadeshda SHUSHKO (BLR) – GGP Final No.2 (19)
11. ALTANTSETSEG Battsetseg (MGL) – Asia Jr No.1 (13)
12. Nanami IRIE (JPN) – GGP Final No.3 (nr)
13. SUMIYA Erdennechimeg (MGL) – Mongolian Open No.3 (10)
14. Lalita LALITA (IND) – Commonwealth Games No. 2 (nr)
15. Brittanee LAVERDURE (CAN) – Pan America No.2 (nr)
16. Aurelie BASSET (FRA) – Austrian Open No.3 (16)
17. Roksana ZASINA (POL) – Spanish GP No.2 (17)
18. Iulia LEORDA (MDA) – World University No.1 (nr)
19. Liliya HORISHNA (UKR) – Medved Prizes No.2 (12)
20. Odunayo ADEKUROYE (NGR) – Commonwealth Games No.1 (nr)

55kg – Klippan Open winner Marwa AMRI (TUN) moved to the top of the rankings with wins in the Grand Prix of Spain and the Olympia Tournament. The Africa champion has, thus far, five tournament victories for 2014 and a bronze medal.

Chiho HAMADA (JPN), who is headed to the world championships in September for Japan, defeated Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) for the world student crown and pinned 2013 junior world bronze medalist PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL) for the top prize at the Golden Grand Prix Final.

1. Marwa AMRI (TUN) – Spanish GP No.1 (2)
2. Jill GALLAYS (CAN) – German GP No.1 (3)
3. Chiho HAMADA (JPN) – GGP Final No.1 (14)
4. Kanako MURATA (JPN) – Yarygin GGP No.1 (1)
5. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) – Medved Prizes No.1 (5)
6. Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) – World University No.2 (6)
7. Irina HUSYAK (UKR) – Medved Prizes No.2 (7)
8. Anna ZWIRYDOWSKA (POL) – Europe No.2 (8)
9. PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL) – GGP Final No.2 (11)
10. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) – Europe No.3 (9)
11. JONG Sun-In (PRK) – Asia No.1 (10)
12. Tatyana KIT (UKR) – World University No.3 (nr)
13. Samantha STEWART (CAN) – World University No.3 (nr)
14. Katsiaryna HANCHAR (BLR) – GGP Final No.3 (nr)
15. Bediha GUN (TUR) – Europe Jr No.3 (12)
16. SUNDEV Byambatseren (MGL) – Mongolian Open No.2 (13)
17. Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ) – Asia No.3 (15)
18. GUAN Yajing (CHN) – Asia No.3 (16)
19. Karima SANCHEZ RAMIS (ESP) – Spanish GP No.2 (nr)
20. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (18)

58kg – Emese BARKA (HUN), 2013 world bronze medalist at 55kg, added a gold medal to her collection at 58kg with a win at the World University Championships and another bronze medal at the Golden Grand Prix Final in Baku. Barka joins the 58kg rankings at No.5 after reaching No.4 at 55kg in June.

European bronze medalist Petra OLLI (FIN) ventured up to 60kg and grabbed a bronze medal at the Golden Grand Prix Final after a hard-fought loss to top-ranked and eventual champion at 60kg Yulia RATKLEVICH (AZE).

1. Kaori ICHO (JPN) – Yarygin GGP No.1 (1)
2. Risako KAWAI (JPN) – Asia No.1 (2)
3. Valeria KOBLOVA-ZHOLOBOVA (RUS) – Europe No.1 (3)
4. Petra OLLI (FIN) – Europe No.3 (4)
5. Emese BARKA (HUN) – World University No.1 (4@55)
6. Anna VASILENKO (UKR) – GGP Final No.1 (7)
7. Irina NETREBA (AZE) – Europe No.2 (6)
8. Braxton STONE (CAN) – Klippan Open No.3 (11)
9. Allison RAGAN (USA) – GGP Final No.2 (12)
10. Marianna SASTIN (HUN) – Klippan Open No.3 (9)
11. Natalia GOLTS (RUS) – Spanish GP No.3 (17)
12. Joice SOUZA DE SILVA (BRA) – Dan Kolov No.3 (13)
13. ZHOU Zhangting (CHN) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (8)
14. Sandra ROA VALENDI (COL) – CAC Games No.1 (17)
15. Viktoria BOBEVA (BUL) – Europe No.3 (10)
16. Jazmyne BARKER (CAN) – Austrian Open No.1 (16)
17. Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) – Pan America No.1 (nr)
18. Hela RIABI (TUN) – Africa No.1 (19)
19. BAATARJAV Shooydor (MGL) – Asia No.2 (14)
20. HAN Kum-Ok (PRK) – Asia No.3 (15)

60kg – Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) scored a late four-point takedown against returning bronze medalist Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) for a 9-5 win and her second Golden Grand Prix Final title.

Sassari tourney winner Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) eked out a 3-2 win over Lais OLIVIERA (BRA) for the Pan American championship title and to solidify her position at No.2 ahead of Sakagami.

1. Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (1)
2. Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) – Pan America No.1 (2)
3. Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) – GGP Final No.2 (3)
4. ZHANG Lan (CHN) – Asia No.1 (4)
5. Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) – Europe No.1 (5)
6. Anastassia HUCHOK (BLR) – German GP No.2 (5@58)
7. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) – Europe No.3 (6)
8. Zhargalma TSYRENOVA (RUS) – German GP No.1 (7)
9. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) – Asia No.2 (8)
10. SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) – Asia No.3 (9)
11. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) – Spanish GP No.2 (11)
12. Justine BOUCHARD (CAN) – Pan America No.2 (16)
13. Olga BUTKEVICH (GBR) – Europe No.3 (13)
14. MUNKHTUYA Tungalag (MGL) – Mongolian Open No.2 (12)
15. Hafize SAHIN (TUR) – Dan Kolov No.2 (9)
16. Oksana HERHEL (UKR) – European Jrs No.2 (19)
17. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) – European Jr No.3 (15)
18. Tatyana LAVRENCHUK (UKR) – Dan Kolov No.1 (17)
19. Jennifer PAGE (USA) – Klippan Open No.3 (18)
20. Yaquelin STORNELL (CUB) – CAC Games No.3 (18)

63kg – Former world champion Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) edged Henna JOHANSSEN (SWE), 3-1, for the title in Madird and then held on for a 7-4 triumph over Asia champion Yurika ITO (JPN) to climb one spot to No.3 in the rankings.

Former junior world champion Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), meanwhile, bagged back-to-back gold medals at the World University Championships and at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to vault from No.16 to No.8 in the rankings.

1. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) – Europe No.1 (1)
2. Jackeline RENTARIA CASTILLO (COL) – Pan America No.1 (2)
3. Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) – GGP Final No.1 (4)
4. Yurika ITO (JPN) – GGP Final No.2 (5)
5. Yulia TKACH (UKR) – GGP Final No.3 (6)
6. Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) – Spanish GP No.2 (7)
7. XILUO Zhuoma (CHN) – Schultz Memorial No.2 (3)
8. Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) – Commonwealth Games No.1 (16)
9. Monica MICHALIK (POL) – German GP No.1 (9)
10. Yulia PRONTSEVICH (RUS) – German GP No.2 (11)
11. Maria MAMASHUK (BLR) – Europe No.2 (8)
12. Ekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) – Asia Jr No.1 (9)
13. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) - Klippan Open No.3 (12)
14. Dzhanan MANOLOVA (BUL) – Europe No.3 (13)
15. Buse TOSUN (TUR) – European Jr No.1 (15)
16. Breanne GRAHAM (CAN) – Austrian Open No.2 (17)
17. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) – Commonwealth Games No.3 (20)
18. SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) – World No.2 (14)
19. Katherine VIDIAUX LOPEZ (CUB) – Pan America No.3 (13)
20. Lais OLIVIERA (BRA) – Pan American No.2 (nr)

69kg – Former world champion Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) won her third and fourth tournament titles since finishing in 11th place at the European championships in April.

Vaulting Fransson from 13th to No.2 in the rankings, her wins included a fall over German Grand Prix winner Aline FOCKEN (GER) in Madrid and over 2013 Asia silver medalist BADRAKH Odonchimeg (MGL) in Baku.

Two-time junior world champion junior world champion Dorothy YEATS (CAN) also doubled up on gold medals with wins at the World University Championships and Commonwealth Games.

1. Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) – Europe No.1 (1)
2. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) – GGP Final No.1 (13)
3. Alina MAKHINYA (UKR) – GGP Final No.3 (2)
4. Sara DOSHO (JPN) – Asia No.1 (3)
5. Aline FOCKEN (GER) – Spanish GP No.2 (4)
6. Dorothy YEATS (CAN) – Commonwealth Games No.1 (8)
7. Laura SKUJINA (LAT) – GGP Final No.3 (7)
8. BADRAKH Odonchimeg (MGL) – GGP Final No.2 (9)
9. Darima SANZHEEVA (RUS) – World University No.3 (nr)
10. Ilana KRATYSH (ISR) – Europe No.2 (5)
11. SHARKUU Tumentsetseg (MGL) – Asia No.2 (6)
12. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) – Asia No.3 (10)
13. Randi MILLER (USA) – Klippan Open No.2 (12)
14. Adina POPESCU (ROU) – World University No.3 (20)
15. Enass MOUSTAFA (EGY) – Africa No.1 (14)
16. Ifeoma IHEANACHO (NGR) – Africa No.3 (15)
17. Dalma CANEVA (ITA) – European Jr No.1 (16)
18. Justina DISTACIO (CAN) – Austrian Open No.1 (17)
19. Ragneta GURBANZADE (AZE) – European Jr No.3 (18)
20. Svetlana SAENKO (MDA) – Europe No.5 (11)

75kg – Former Asia champion Hiroe SUZUKI (JPN) stitched together a 1-1 criteria win over world bronze medalist Adeline GRAY (USA) to leap from eighth in the rankings to No.2 behind World University champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Erica WIEBE (CAN).

Defending champion Lisset HECHEVARRIA MEDINA (CUB) recorded a pair of falls and a technical fall in the first period to repeat as Pan America champion and climb to No.13 in the rankings.

1. Erica WIEBE (CAN) – Commonwealth Games No.1 (1)
2. Hiroe SUZUKI (JPN) – GGP Final No.1 (8)
3. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) – GGP Final No.3 (3)
4. Adeline GRAY (USA) – GGP Final No.2 (2)
5. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) – Europe No.3 (4)
6. Gouzel MANYUROVA (KAZ) – Asia No.1 (5)
7. Stanka ZLATEVA (BUL) – Europe No.1 (6)
8. ZHOU Feng (CHN) – Asia No.2 (7)
9. OCHIRBAT Burmaa (MGL) – Mongolian Open No.2 (10)
10. Aline SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) – SA Games No.1 (11)
11. Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS) – Spanish GP No.2 (15)
12. Maria SELMAIER (GER) – German GP No.3 (14)
13. Lisset HECHEVARRIA MEDINA (CUB) – Pan America No.1 (16)
14. Andrea OLAYA GUTEIERREZ (COL) – Pan America No.2 (17)
15. ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) – Schultz Memorial No.2 (9)
16. Katerina BURMISTROVA (UKR) – Europe No.3 (12)
17. Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) – Spanish GP No.5 (13)
18. Epp MAE (EST) – World University No.2 (18)
19. Laure ALI ANNABEL (CMR) – Africa No.1 (19)
20. Jarismit WEFFER GUANP (VEN) – CAC Games No.2 (19)