From: Tim Foley
[email protected] Subject: Sun Topples Tosaka, Stadnyk New No.1 in Women’s World Rankings Date: March 2, 2016 at 2:19 PM To:
[email protected] Sun Topples Tosaka, Stadnyk New No.1 in Women’s World Rankings Photo: Ganor MARTIN, United World Wrestling CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (March 2) – For a second month in a row, China had a role in seeing a new No.1 emerge in the United World Wrestling rankings for women’s wrestling. And, for a second month in a row, one of Japan’s top female stars felt the sting of defeat. SUN Yanan (CHN) knocked three-time world champ Eri TOSAKA (JPN) out of the top spot at 48kg with a 5-4 win at the Asian championships in Bangkok, elevating world silver medalist Maria STADNYK (AZE) as the new No.1 at the women’s flyweight category. Sun, who came to Bangkok ranked No.3 after a win at the Rio 2016 test event in January, edged up to No.2 while Tosaka slipped to third. Tosaka’s setback followed the even more stunning loss by Kaori ICHO (JPN) at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January. Icho, however, still holds onto her top ranking at 58kg. Also in January, world silver medalist ZHOU Feng (CHN) emerged the victor and the new No.1 at 69kg at the Rio 2016 test event, after Dorothy YEATS (CAN) defeated world champion Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) in the quarterfinals and subsequently fell to Zhou in the finals. Other than Tosaka, the only other top-ranked wrestler in action in February was Oksana HERHEL (UKR).