TOKYO (October 8) - Japan rolled to three convincing wins on the opening day of the women's World Cup wrestling competition, taking a big step toward regaining the title they lost in Tokyo one year ago. One of Japan's victories at Komazawa Gymnasium was a 19-9 triumph over the United States, which took the World Cup crown from Japan one year ago.
Olympic champion Saori Yoshida led Japan with three wins at 55 kg, while Kaori Icho, who also struck gold in Athens this summer, posted wins by fall and technical fall at 63 kg.
The U.S., meanwhile, wrestling without 72-kg ace Toccara Montgomery, saw their hopes for a repeat title disappear when they also lost to China, 15-13.
Montgomery, the 2003 World Cup champion, failed to make weight at 72 kg, leaving the Americans one wrestler short in the seven-wrestler team competition.
United States 23, India 6
Alaina Berube and Katie Downing scored falls at 63 kg and 67 kg to break open seesaw matches as the defending champion United States cruised past India.
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Japan 24, Canada 4
Kyoko Hamaguchi avenged a loss to Ohenewa Akuffo at the 2002 World Cup with a surprise single-arm throw that led to a pin at 72 kg.
Six-time world champion Christine Nordhagen scored with a gut wrench just before the final buzzer at 67 kg for a 4-3 win over Eri Sakamoto -- Canada's only win of the dual.
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China 15, Russia 12
Ma Bailing tipped up European junior champion Alena Starodubtseva with the high gut wrench for exposure and extra points at 72 kg to secure the victory for China.
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Japan 19, United States 9
Tela O'Donnell gave Saori Yoshida trouble with her unorthodox style, tying the score once in the second period 5-5 before the Olympic champion finally took control of the bout at 55 kg.
Sally Roberts, meanwhile, reversed a loss last year to Seiko Yamamoto with a 3-1 win at 59 kg.
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Canada 15, China 12
Canada won only three matches, but added points in each of their four losses by decision for an over China.
With Canada trailing 12-8, Christine Nordhagen rolled to a technical fall against 16-year-old Jing Ruixue at 67 kg and Ohenewa Akuffo capped the turn around with a decisive 5-0 win over Ma Bailing at 72 kg.
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China 15, United States 13
Teenager Jing Ruixue held on for a 3-0 win at 67 kg over 2001 World Cup champion Katie Downing as the United States went down to its second loss of the competition.
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Russia 23, India 5
Ekaterina Savelova and Elena Perepelkina scored the only pins of the dual. Evgenia Perepelkina had to go into overtime at 59 kg to secure her win over two-time Asia bronze medalist Alka Tomar.
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Japan 28, India 1
Only Rena Iwama and Ayako Murashima were forced to wre stle in the second period as all seven Japanese wrestlers scored falls or technical falls in each of their bouts.
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Canada 17, Russia 7
Emily Richardson broke open a tight match with a technical fall at 59 kg as Canada kept their World Cup hopes alive with a win over Russia.
Christine Nordhagen, however, could not break through the tough defense of Elena Perepelkina as the six-time world champion went down 3-1 to the 2002 European junior champion.
