Despite enjoying a lot of success at World Championships and Olympic Games in recent years, none of the three nations have managed to dislodge wrestling giants China or Japan at the World Cup.

But, with six-time winners China failing to qualify for this year's edition, having entered many of their best wrestlers at the 2014 Asian Games rather than the World Cup qualifying event, and seven-time champions Japan competing without star names such as Karoi Icho, Saori Yoshida and world number one Eri Tosaka through injury, the door has seemingly opened to bring an end to the stranglehold.

The US have submitted the strongest individual team with 12 ranked wrestlers across the eight weight classes.

Leading the squad is Adeline Gray in the 75 kilogram category, supported by Helen Maroulis and Elena Pirozhkova, ranked second in the world in the 55kg and 63kg classes respectively, who are both competing on the back of impressive wins at the Cerro Pelado International in Havana last month. 

Much of Mongolia's hopes will rest on the shoulders of 2014 world champion Sukhee Tserenchimed ©UWW



Joining them in Group A are Azerbaijan, Poland and defending champions Japan, whose headline name in the absence of Icho, Yoshida and Tosaka, is Chiho Hamada, who is dropping down from her 2014 World Championship weight of 55kg to compete at 53kg.

The Azerbaijanis will be headed by the one-two punch of Mariya Stadnyk in the 48kg and Yulia Ratkevich in the 60kg, both world champions in 2009 and London 2012 Olympic medallists, while Iwona Matkowska will highlight Poland's efforts in the 48kg.

Meanwhile in Group B, Mongolia and Russia look set to fight it out for top spot and a place in the final against the winners of Group A on Sunday (March 8).

Sukhee Tserenchimed, and Soronzonbold Battsetseg, the 2014 and 2010 world champions respecitvely, are the stand out names in the Mongolian team at 60kg and 63kg.

London 2012 Olympic champion Natalia Vorobieva of the 69kg category, meanwhle, will hope to anchor a Russian squad that also includes Irina Ologonova in the 55kg and Valeria Koblova in the 58kg.

Completing Group B are Sweden, who have five ranked wrestlers in their team, including Sofia Mattson of the 53kg and Jenna Frannson of the 75kg, and Ukraine, who world champion Yulia Tkach of the 63kg leading a young squad into St Petersburg.

The action is due to begin tomorrow with the group stage, as the match-ups for the final, bronze medal match, fifth-place play-off and seventh-place play-off are determined.

The final rankings will all be decided the following day. 

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