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62 kg Women’s World Championships Preview

10/2/2001
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

Note: TheMat.com has resumed its series of previews for the 2001 World Championships. Although it has not yet been determined when and where the event will be hosted, the tournament is expected to be held this year. Those athletes listed as entries for the event originally scheduled for New York City will be used in these previews.

62 kg Women's World Championships Preview

The top star at this weight class is five-time World Champion Nikola Hartmann of Austria, who won the 2000 World title. Hartmann has shown the ability to win consistently and beat the top challengers when it counts. Hartmann is not invincible, as many of her opponents have wins against her, illustrated by her fourth place finish at the 2001 European Championships

Last year, Hartmann beat Rika Iwama of Japan in the World Championships gold-medal match, and Iwama returns looking for another chance at the gold. As in every weight class, the Japanese entry will be expected to be one of the favorites going in.

Stephanie Gross of Germany was the 2000 World bronze medalist last year, followed by veteran Malgorzata Bassa of Poland in fourth place. Bassa was the 2001 European Champion and is seeking to move up another step into the World finals.

The United States is led by Sara McMann, who placed ninth last year but has been had a great season. McMann has been defeating top international stars at events all year, and has dominated her U.S. opponents. McMann is one of the hardest workers on the international scene, and has shown consistent improvement each season

Puerto Rico’s Mabel Fonseca won the Pan American title at this weight class, after placing at the World meet last year at 56 kg. If she remains at this weight class, she will be expected to challenge for the medals.

Russia should be very competitive, with 2001 European silver medalist Natalia Ivanova, 2001 Junior World silver medalist Daria Nazarova or Marina Mamaeva as their entry possibilities. Canada’s Trish Leibel is also very tough, and should be among the athletes to watch.

Lili Meng of China, second in the 1999 Worlds, and Lotta Andersson of Sweden, third in the 1999 Worlds, are also contenders and are expected to compete at the World Championships.

Lene Aanes of Norway placed third at the 2001 European Championships and was a 1998 World silver medalist. Her experience makes her a threat every year. Italy’s Diletta Giampiccolo placed fifth at the 2001 World Championships and is expected to be competitive.

Others to watch are Bulgaria’s Julieta Okot, Ukraine’s Nataliya Kovalenko and Mongolia’s Ochirbat Myagmarsuren.

This weight class should be very competitive. Hartmann is always the athlete to beat, but a number of other wrestlers have the skill and experience to reach for the gold. Sara McMann of the United States hopes to make this her breakthrough year, and will receive a big boost if the event is held in New York, as proposed.

WOMEN’S 62 kg/136.5 lbs. (21 athletes as of 9/14)
Belarus - V. Khilko
Bulgaria - Julieta Okot
Canada - Trish Leibel
China - Meng Lili
Czech Republic - Michaela Krizkova
Germany - Stephanie Gross or Stefanie Stuber
Greece - Paraskevi Zigouri
Italy - Diletta Giampiccolo
Japan - Rena Iwama
Korea - Kang Yu-Jin
Macedonia - Sadbere Hoti
Mongolia - Ochirbat Myagmarsuren
Norway - Lene Aanes
Poland - Malgorzata Bassa
Puerto Rico - Mabel Fonseca
Russia - Natalia Ivanova, Daria Nazarova or Marina Mamaeva
Sweden - Lotta Andersson
Tunisia - Rym Garram
Turkey - Dilek Erdogan, Rabia Tanblover or Hatice Sabur
Turkmenistan - Nadejda Jeltakova
Ukraine - Nataliya Kovalenko
United States - Sara McMann