JAPAN WINS 7TH WORLD CUP CROWN IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

TOKYO (March 15-16) – Japan rolled to an historic 8-0 win over Russia to claim its seventh triumph in the World Cup of women’s freestyle wrestling.

Japan raced out to a quick 4-0 lead at Azusawa Gymnasium in Tokyo on a fall and three technical falls, and then completed the first white-wash in the history of the finals of the women’s World Cup with upset wins over Olympic Games gold medalist Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) and 2011 world runner-up Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS).

The championship final capped a dominating performance in preliminary pool matches where Japan defeated defending champion China, 7-1, to advance to the final.

Just prior to the opening of the World Cup, national team coach Eikatsu YOSHIDA (JPN), father of Olympic and world champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), died suddenly from an apparent brain hemorrhage.

Saori Yoshida responded with three wins in three bouts in her international debut at 53kg which included a 12-1 win over Klippan Ladies Open winner Maria GUROVA (RUS).

Results of the championship final and placement finals:

F1 – Japan 8, Russia 0

F3 – China 6, Canada 2

F5 – Mongolia 4, United States 4 (Mongolia wins on criteria)

F7 – Hungary 4, Ukraine 4 (Hungary wins on criteria)

Championship final Japan 8, Russia 0

48kg – Eri TOSAKA df. Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA by fall, 2:05 (6-0)

53kg – Saori YOSHIDA df. Maria GUROVA by TF, 5:33 (12-1)

55kg – Kanako MURATA df. Irina OLOGONOVA by TF, 1:56 (10-0)

58kg – Risako KAWAI df. Zhargalma TSYRENOVA by TF, 4:32 (11-0)

60kg – Katsuki SAKAGAMI df. Svetlana LIPATOVA, 4-3

63kg – Rio WATARI df. Inna TRAZHUKOVA by default, 0:00

69kg – Sara DOSHO df. Natalya VOROBIEVA, 5-3

75kg – Kyoko HAMAGUCHI df. Ekaterina BUKINA, 8-5

Final pool standings and team results:

Pool A standings

1. Japan, 3 wins, 0 losses

2. China, 2-1

3. United States, 1-2

4. Hungary, 0-3

Pool A results

China 7, Hungary 1

Japan 5, United States 3

United States 7, Hungary 1

Japan 7, China 1

China 5, United States 3

Japan 7, Hungary 1

Pool B standings

1. Russia, 3 wins, 0 losses

2. Canada, 2-1

3. Mongolia, 1-2

4. Ukraine, 0-3

Pool B results

Russia 5, Canada 3

Mongolia 8, Ukraine 0

Canada 8, Ukraine 0

Russia 6, Mongolia 2

Russia 7, Ukraine 1

Canada 5, Mongolia 3

Round 1 – Japan 5, United States 3

48kg – Eri TOSAKA df. Alyssa LAMPE by TF, 4:14 (13-2)

53kg – Nanami IRIE lost to Helen MAROULIS by fall, 4:53 (4-6)

55kg – Chiho HAMADA df. Kelsey CAMPBELL, 4-3

58kg – Risako KAWAI df. Alli RAGAN by TF, 1:58 (10-0)

60kg – Katsuki SAKAGAMI df. Jennifer PAGE by TF, 2:04 (10-0)

63kg – Rio WATARI lost to 63kg Elena PIROZHKOVA by fall, 5:07 (1-10)

69kg – Sara DOSHO df. Veronica CARLSON by TF, 1:02 (13-0)

75kg – Kyoko HAMAGUCHI lost to Adeline GRAY, 0-5

Round 2 – Japan 7, China 1

48kg – Eri TOSAKA df. SUN Yanan, 6-4

53kg – Saori YOSHIDA df. ZHONG Xuechun by TF, 3:36 (11-0)

55kg – Kanako MURATA df. GUAN Yajing by TF, 4:30 (12-2)

58kg – Risako KAWAI df. ZHOU Zhangting by TF, 4:01 (11-0)

60kg – Katsuki SAKAGAMI df. HAN Yingyan by TF, 3:25 (10-0)

63kg – Rio WATARI df. XILUO Zhuoma, 5-4

69kg – Sara DOSHO df. ZHOU Feng, 8-5

75kg – Kyoko HAMAGUCHI lost to ZHANG Fengliu, 0-2

Round 3 – Japan 7, Hungary 1

48kg – Yuki IRIE df. Mercedesz DENES by fall, 1:20 (4-0)

53kg – Saori YOSHIDA df. Zsanett EGYED by fall, 0:26 (4-0)

55kg – Chiho HAMADA df. Emese BARKA, 2x-2=technique of larger value

58kg – Risako KAWAI df. Ramona GALAMBOS by TF, 0:44 (10-0)

60kg – Katsuki SAKAGAMI df. Marianna SASTIN, 6-2

63kg – Yurika ITO df. Gabriella SLEISZ by fall, 3:53 (6-2)

69kg – Kayoko KUDO won by forfeit

75kg – Mami SHINKAI lost to Zsanett NEMETH, 1-3

==End Item