2019 Wrestling Ranking: What Adekuoroye, others should do for points

By Akeem Lawal

Nigeria wrestlers must attend world championships, continental championships, and Ranking Series events for them to gain points on world rankings after the United World Wrestling (UWW) Bureau approved new regulations for the 2019 Ranking Series.

Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports that only four Nigerian female wrestlers are in top 20 in their various categories. 

World silver medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye is the most ranked Nigerian wrestler on 9th postion in the women’s wrestling 57kg category, while reigning Commonwealth champion Blessing Oborududu, is ranked 12th in the 68kg.

Two-time commonwealth champion, Aminat Adeniyi is ranked 17th in the 62kg, while Blessing Onyebuchi is rated 17th in the 76kg.

According to recommendations brought forward by the Technical Commission of the UWW, most important changes to the 2019 Ranking Series centered around allocation of points at world championships, continental championships, and Ranking Series events. The points were rebalanced to emphasize participation, and success, at the world and continental championships.

“The 2018 World Championships results are the basis of the rankings, as each year the world championships results will be the first points for the following year.

“The seeding process for the World Championships and Olympic Games will now also include a field of the top four wrestlers in each weight category with lower seeded athletes bumping up should one of the top four not participate in the world championships. The previous version of the world championships did not replace top seeds when they were absent of the competition.

“The number of points awarded at a competition will also be impacted by the number of wrestlers entered in each bracket. For weight categories with 10 or fewer entries an additional six (6) points will be added. For categories with 11-20 wrestlers entered an additional eight (8) points will be added. Ten (10) points will be added to any weight category with more than 20 entries.

“Points will be allocated to participating athletes in a weight category and are not transferable to other athletes or weight categories. Points will also reset after the world championships or Olympic Games with the points from the previous year’s championships or games used for following year’s rankings. For example, the 2019 rankings start with only the results of the 2018 World Championships in Budapest.

“There will no longer be a +2kg weight allowance granted for Ranking Series, Continental Championships, World Championships, or Olympic Games,” UWW said on its website.