The world's top women's lightweight wrestler in recent seasons has been Irina Melnik of Ukraine, who has claimed two straight World gold medals. In 2001, she defeated Carol Huynh of Canada in the finals, and in 2001, she stopped veteran Inga Karamtshakova of Russia for the gold.     Huyhn won a World bronze medal in 2000, for two straight years of medal production. Karamtshakova was also a bronze medalist at the 1999 World Championships. Brigitte Wagner of France was the 2001 World bronze medalist, as well as a 2001 Junior World Champion.    Karamtshakova was the 2002 European Champion at this division, followed by Wagner with the silver medal and Angelique Bethenet-Hidalgo of France with the bronze medal.    Dropping down to this weight for the USA is Patricia Miranda, a 2000 World silver medalist at 112.25 pounds. Miranda, who competed on her varsity men's team at Stanford, has looked very strong at her new weight division and will not be satisfied without a medal performance. She was a Pan American champion this year, competing up a division. Tricia Saunders of the United States, a four-time World Champion, did not place at the 2001 World meet and has not competed since.     Farah Touchi of France was fourth at the 2000 and 2001 World Championships, and she boasts a 1997 World bronze medal.     Misato Shimizu of Japan has placed in the top eight at the last two World meets. Shimizu was also a 2001 World Cup silver medalist. According to Japanese journalists, Shimizu will be replaced by Miko Noguchi at the Worlds this year. Noguchi was the 2002 World University champion, and is aiming for a medal at the World Championships.    One of the best women's wrestlers of all time, five-time World Champion Xiue Zhong of China, claimed the first Asian Games gold medal for women wrestlers ever this year. Zhong defeated Lidiya Karamchakova of Tajikistan in the Asian Games finals, and also was second at the World University Championships. Zhong last competed in the World Championships finals in 1999, when she lost to American star Saunders. Another Chinese athlete to watch is Ying Cui, the 2001 World Cup gold medalist.    This year, the Pan American Championships gold medalist at 48 kg was Mayerlis Caripa of Venezuela, and the silver medalist was  Ileni Barrera of Peru.    Others to consider are Agora Papavassioliou of Greece, Volha Prydanikava of Belarus, Kamelia Tzekova of Bulgaria, Wei Chien Kao of Chinese Taipei, Aynse Guneri of Turkey, Iwona Matkoska of Poland, China's Tang Liqiong and Mette Barlie of Norway.    As this is an Olympic weight class, this division should be very competitive in the next two years. With the first Olympic gold medal at stake, it would not be surprising to see a number of the older stars like Zhong and Saunders try to make a final run for glory. This weight class has a number of talented young athletes who aim to claim this glory for themselves. The first order of business will be seeing if anybody can stop Melnik from winning her third straight gold medal.    2001 World Championships results  46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Gold - Irina Melnik (Ukraine) dec. Carol Huyhn (Canada), 3-0; Bronze - Brigitte Wagner (Germany) dec. Farah Touchi (France), 4-2; 5th - Misato Shimizu (Japan); 6th -  Agoro Papavassiliou (Greece); 7th - Volha Prydanikava (Belarus); 8th - Kamelia Tzekova (Bulgaria); 9th -  Ayse Guneri (Turkey); 10th - Inga Karamthakova (Russia)    2000 World Championships results  46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Gold - Irina Melnik (Ukraine); Silver - Inga Karamtshakova (Russia); Bronze - Carol Huynh (Canada); 4th - Farah Touchi (France); 5th - Kamilia Tzekova (Bulgaria); 6th - Maria de las Angeles Barraza (Mexico); 7th - Wei Chien Kao (Taipei); 8th - Misato Shimizu (Japan); 9th - Sarah Ehinger (Germany); 10th -Agoro Papavassiliou (Greece)    1999 World Championships results  46 kg/101.25 lbs. - 1st - Tricia Saunders (USA) dec. Xiue Zhong (China), 4-2, ot, 6:46; 3rd - Inga Karamtjakov (Russia) dec. Shoko Yoshimura (Japan), 3-1; 5th - Mette Barlie (Norway); 6th - Julia Vojtova (Ukraine); 7th - Angela Castellanos (Venezuela); 8th -Helena Honkamaa (Sweden); 9th - Farah Touchi (France); 10th - Lila Ritevska (Austria)    Each day this week, TheMat.com will preview a weight class at the 2002 Women's World  Championships, set for Halkida, Greece, Nov. 2-3. Please visit TheMat.com each day for a new preview of the championships. To discuss the World Championships with other fans, please visit the International Board or the Women's Wrestling Board on TheMat.com Message Boards.