World bronze medalist Antim of India against former European champion Jonna Malmgren of Sweden in action (Photo UWW)
The 53kg weight class will crown a new world champion in Astana later this year after 2025 world champion Haruna Maruyama failed to qualify through Japan’s domestic trials and Olympic champion Akari Fujinami moved up to 57kg.
The Budapest Ranking Series, scheduled for July 15-19, will offer an early look at the contenders as many of the world’s top wrestlers at 53kg gather for the final Ranking Series event of the year.
Asian champion Zhang Jin of China headlines the field, which also includes world bronze medalist Antim of India, 55kg European champion Andreea Ana of Romania, former European champion Jonna Malmgren of Sweden and United States world team member Cristelle Rodriguez.
While two leading contenders for the world title, Lucia Guzman of Ecuador and Moe Kiyooka of Japan, are not entered, the rest of the field is expected to play a significant role in the medal race in Astana in one of the year’s most open weight classes.
Zhang put together a dominant performance at the Asian Championships, highlighted by a victory via fall over Kiyooka. Antim has previous wins over both Zhang and Malmgren and will face another stern test in Budapest while Ana brings considerable international experience. Rodriguez, a former U20 world champion, lost to Guzman at the Pan-American Championships, but her aggressive style continues to make her a difficult opponent.
Joining Zhang on China’s team is Li Yuxuan, a two-time 55kg Asian silver medalist with the ability to upset the favorites. Veteran Roksana Zasina of Poland is also entered, adding another experienced challenger to the field.
Tough 68kg Bracket
The 53kg weight class isn’t the only one which is offering early insights. The 68kg competition is expected to be equally competitive despite the absence of world champion Ami Isahii of Japan and bronze medalist Kennedy Blades of the USA.
The field includes Olympic silver medalist Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan, former world champion Jia Long of China, 72kg world silver medalist Nesrin Bas of Turkiye, and former European champion Alina Shauchuk of Belarus.
Zhumanazarova claimed the Asian title in April and enters Budapest as the favorite, with Long expected to be her biggest challenger. Bas and Shauchuk were set to meet in the European Championships final before the latter withdrew, handing Bas the title.
U23 world champion Elizaveta Petliakova of Russia will look to win her second consecutive Ranking Series medal after taking silver at the Ulaanbaatar Open. Both European bronze medalists, Kateryna Zelenykh of Romania and Tindra Sjoeberg og Sweden, also add depth to the field.
Bullen vs Tandelova II
A rematch of this year’s European Championships final could take place at 62kg after Grace Bullenof Norway produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, rallying from a 9-1 deficit to pin Amina Tandelova of Russia.
They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Zhang Qi ZHANG of China, world bronze medalist Esther Kokawole of Nigeria, and European medalists Johanna Lindborg of Sweden and Solomiia Vynnyk of Ukraine. The field also includes Pan-Am champion Adaugo Nwachukwu of the USA and former U20 world champion Eniko Elekes of Hungary, who will have the backing of the home crowd.
In the 76kg, world silver medalist Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan has had a mixed season with win at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series but finished with a silver medal at the Asian Championships. She will have a chance to win another gold in Budapest.
She, however, faces a difficult field led by Dymond Guilford of the USA, who has a previous win over Medet Kyzy. Other challengers include Indian youngsters Kajal and Priya, former European champion Alexandra Anghel of Romania and big-throwing Elmira Syzdykova of Kazakhstan, another wrestler who has beaten Medet Kyzy previously.
Nichita Returns
Olympic silver medalist Anastasia Nichita of Moldavia will compete for the first time in nearly two years. Nichita, who became a mother after the Paris Olympics, returns at 59kg as she begins another Olympic cycle.
While she will be expected to win, making her return challenging will be Asian bronze medalist Neha of India, former world medalist Othelie Hoeie of Norway, European champion Mariia Vynnyk og Ukraine and veteran Jowita Wezesien of Poland among others in the field.
China’s Depth
Two Chinese wrestlers, Kong Kexin, and Xie Mengyu could dominate the 57kg bracket. Both Asian champions, at 57kg and 59kg respectively, Hong and Xie will be challenged by European silver medalist Elvira Suleyman Kamaloglu of Turkiye, European bronze medalist Zhala Aaliyeva of Azserbaijan and American Amanda Martinez.
India is sending age-group world medalist Neha Sharma and U20 world champion Tapsya.
European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine enters as the favorite at 50kg but Olympic and Asian bronze medalist Feng Ziqi of China is among the strongest wrestlers in the weight class and will be a marquee match-up if the two meet.
Other top wrestlers include Pan-American champion Katie Gomez of the USA and Nadezhda Sokolova of Russia capable of upsetting the favorites. Canada has an interesting entry with former 53kg U17 world champion Kaura Coles of Canda, who is making her senior UWW debut at 50kg.
Four extremely talented wrestlers are entered at 72kg with former world silver medalist Zhamila Bakbergenova of Kazakhstan, European silver medalist Wiktoria Choluj of Poland, Zagreb Open silver medalist Diksha Malik of India and U23 Asian champion Kaiyrkul Sharshebaeva of Kyrgyzstan. With only three medals available, one of those four contenders will leave Budapest empty-handed.
