LEIVIN, France (March 5) – Japan fell to China in a preliminary round dual and for a fourth straight year will have to wrestle for third place at the World Cup of Women's Wrestling.
Japan won its first two Pool A duals with Mongolia and France, but fell to the four-time defending champion Chinese in the nightcap 5-2. Japan will face Canada in the bronze medal dual.
In the opening dual with Mongolia, national team newcomber Takako Saito took the first period from world champion Battsetseg Soronzonbold at 59kg but was pinned in the second as Japan rolled to a 6-1 victory. In the third-round dual with China, world champion Hitomi Sakamoto gave up the first period at 48kg to Beijing Olympian Li Xiaomei, but rallied for the win. Japan, however, dropped the next three weight categories as China took control of the dual.
In a much-anticipated bout at 63kg, Kaori Icho turned away former world champion at 67kg Jing Ruixue before China slammed the door with wins in the final two categories.
Seeking its fifth straight World Cup crown, China will face the United States, which won the Pool B competition on criteria over Canada and Russia.
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Pool A results
Japan df. Mongolia, 6-1
China df. France, 7-0
Japan df. France, 7-0
China df. Mongolia, 7-0
China df. Japan, 5-2
Mongolia df. France, 6-1
Pool B results
Russia df. Kazakhstan, 4-3
United States df. Canada, 5-2
Russia df. United States, 4-3
Canada df. Kazakhstan, 5-2
Canada df. Russia, 4-3
United States df. Kazakhstan, 6-1
(Note: United States wins pool with two wins and one loss and 14 individual points, Canada takes second place with head-to-head win over Russia.)
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Japan 6, Mongolia 1
48 – Hitomi Sakamoto df. Ganchimeg Chuluunbaatar by TF, 2-0 (6-0=1:04, 7-0=1:11)
51 – Hikari Sugawara df. Davaasukh Otgontsetseg, 2-1 (4-6, 4-0, 6-0=1:11)
55 – Chikako Matsukawa df. Byambatseren Sundev, 2-0 (2-0, 1-0)
59 – Takako Saito lost to Battsetseg Soronzonbold by fall, 2P=0:32 (1-0=2:02, F0-4)
63 – Kaori Icho df. Sharkhuu Tumentsetseg, 2-0 (1-0, 5-0)
67 – Yoshiko Inoue df. Nasanburmaa Ochirbat, 2-0 (1-0, 1-0)
72 – Kyoko Hamaguchi df. Burmaa Ochirbat by fall, 3P (0-1=2:30, 4-1, F3-0)
Japan 7, France 0
48 – Hitomi Sakamoto df. Fathoumata Yattabare by fall, 1P=0:26 (F3-0)
51 – Hikari Sugawara df. Vanesse Boubryemm, 2-1 (2-0, 3-5, 2-0)
55 – Chikako Matsukawa df. Marine Picavet by fall, 2P=1:02 (6-0, F5-0)
59 – Takako Saito df. Piva Mait de Valiere, 2-0 (1-0, 1-0)
63 – Kaori Icho df. Audrey Prieto-Bokhashvili by fall, 2P=1:17 (3-4, F4-0)
67 – Yoshiko Inoue df. Khadija Bamou by injury default, 2P=0:37 (1-0, Inj5-0)
72 – Kyoko Hamaguchi df. Cynthia Vescan, 2-0 (1-0, 6-0=2:00)
China 5, Japan 2
48 – Hitomi Sakamoto df. Li Xiaomei, 2-1 (0-3=2:03, 4-1, 2-0)
51 – Hikari Sugawara lost to Sun Yanan by fall, 2P=1:05 (1-0=2:05, F0-4)
55 – Chikako Matsukawa lost to Yang Senlian, 0-2 (2-3, 0-5)
59 – Takako Saito lost to Li Hui, 0-3 (0-1, 0-4)
63 – Kaori Icho df. Jing Ruixue, 2-0 (1-0, 4-0)
67 – Yoshiko Inoue lost to Hong Yan, 0-2 (3-3x=big, 0-1)
72 – Kyoko Hamaguchi lost to Xu Qing, 1-2 (1-0, 0-3=2:07, 0-1)