To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

By William May
（Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public Information Committee
：wmay52@hotmail.com）

JAPANESE WOMEN BAG 3 GOLD, SILVER AT ASIAN GAMES




　　 　DOHA (December 11) - Japanese women won three of the four gold medals on offer on the third day of the Asian Games wrestling competition. But, defending champion Kyoko Hamaguchi had to settle for silver as she came up short against 2004 Olympic gold medalist Wang Xu in the 72-kg final at the Aspire sports complex.(left)

　　　Saori Yoshida ran her unbeaten streak in international competition to 104 as she successfully defended her Asian Games crown. Along the way, Yoshida stopped world runner-up at 59-kg Su Lihui of China in the semifinals and then capped her gold medal run with a 3-point takedown against former Russian Olympian Olga Smirnova.(right)

　　　At 63 kg, Kaori Icho reversed a loss to China’s Xu Haiyan in the 2002 Asian Games with a 2-0 victory in the semifinals. Icho, who defeated Xu at the world championships nine weeks ago, could not score in regulation against the Games’ defending champion. She managed, however, to the first period from the clinch and then won when Xu did not take the correct starting position in the clinch after the second period and was penalized.(left)

　　　Icho’s older sister Chiharu also met her stiffest competition in the 48-kg semifinals against Li Xiaomei, a rising star in Chinese wrestling. Li took the first period against Icho, but the reigning world champion was workmanlike in forging a win over the next two periods against her young opponent.(right)

　　　At 72 kg, defending champion Hamaguchi recorded a pair of falls to advance to the final. But there, she faced Wang who defeated Hamaguchi in the semifinals at the Athens Olympics. Both wrestlers were cautious and the first period came down to the clinch won by Wang.Hamaguchi went on the offensive in the second period, but was effectively countered by Wang, who held on for the victory.(left)

Women’s freestyle

48 kg - ICHO, Chiharu (1st, 13 entries)

R1 - df. Wu Li-chuan (TPE), 2-0 (1-0, 8-0=1:02)

　　Icho scores with a force-out in the first period, then opens up in the second with a go-behind, a pair of tilts and then a 3-point takedown.

R2 - df. Jylldyz Eshimova-Turtbayeva (KAZ), 2-0 (1-0, 1-0)

　　In a defensive struggle, Icho scores a pair of force-out points against the junior world bronze medalist.

SF - df. Li Xiaomei (CHN), 2-1 (0-1=2:10, 1-0, 3-1)

　　Icho appeared to score from the defensive clinch position in the first period, but officials ruled that Li had the takedown first. Icho takes the second with a force-out point. In the third period, Li scores first, but Icho comes back with a takedown and turn.

F1 - df. Kim Hyung-Joo (KOR), 2-0 (1-0, 3-0)

　　Icho goes behind for a point in the first period, then combines single-legs and force-outs for her first Asian Games gold.

Other medal matches at 48 kg
F3 - Tsogtbazar Enkhjargal (MGL) df. Kang Son-A (PRK), 2-0 (3-1, 3-0)
F3 - Li Xiaomei (CHN) df. Wu Li-chuan (TPE), 2-0 (1-0, 2-1)

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

55 kg - YOSHIDA, Saori (1st, 12 entries)

R1 - bye

R2 - df. Alka Tomar (IND), 2-0 (1-0, 5-0)

　　Yoshida scores with a low double-leg takedown for the first period, then gets another takedown and nearfall in the second.

SF - df. Su Lihui (CHN), 2-0 (6-1, 2-0)

　　Su scores first with a double-leg counter, but Yoshida answers back with a pair of takedowns. Yoshida has Su on her back as the first period ends and the apparent fall was waved off. Yoshida gets of pair of takedowns in the second period for the win.

F1 - df. Olga Smirnova (KAZ), 2-0 (3-0, 6-0=1:58)

　　Yoshida forged a first-period win with solid takedowns and good defense. She opened up in the second period and dropped Smirnova to her back from a single-leg and lift.

Other medal matches at 55 kg
F3 - Alka Tomar (IND) df. Su Lihui (CHN), 2-1 (2-1, 2-3, 1x-1)
F3 - Otgonjargal Naidan (MGL) df. Su Ying-tzu (TPE), 2-0 (2-0, 2-0)

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

63 kg - ICHO, Kaori (1st, 10 entries)

R1 - bye

R2 - df. Nguyen Thi Hai Yen (VIE) by TF, 2-0 (6-0=0:48, 6-0=1:48)

　　Icho goes behind, then rolls up five more points for the technical. In the second period, Icho goes behind again, but uses grapevine to turn her opponent over.

SF - df. Xu Haiyan (CHN), 2-0 (1-0=2:01, 1-0=2:00)

　　Both periods end scoreless and Icho wins the toss each time. Icho scores with a double-leg to end the first period and then takes the second when Xu is penalized for incorrect position.

F1 - df. Geetika Jakhar (IND) by fall, 2P=0:28 (3-0, 6-0)

　　Icho runs over her finals opponent with takedowns in the first period and then nails down the fall in the second with a single-leg and body press.

Other medal matches at 63 kg
F3 - Odonchimeg Badrakh (MGL) df. Kim Hee-Joung (KOR), 2-1 (4-0, 1-1x, 1-0)
F3 - Xu Haiyan (CHN) df. Nguyen Thi Hai Yen (VIE) by TF, 2-0 (6-0=0:29, 8-0=1:41)

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

72 kg - HAMAGUCHI, Kyoko (2nd, 9 entries)

R1 - bye

R2 - df. Yun So-Young (KOR) by fall, 1P=1:23 (3-0)

　　Hamaguchi snaps Yun down and cranks her over for the fall.

SF - df. Ochirbat Burmaa (MGL) by fall, 2P=1:14 (2-0, 4-0)

　　Hamaguchi scores with leg attacks and snap-downs, then converts for the fall in the second period.

F1 - lost to Wang Xu (CHN), 0-2 (0-1=2:01, 1-3)

　　Wang scores from the clinch after a cautious first period. Hamaguchi attacks in the second, but Wang counters for two points. Hamaguchi scores with a takedown, but ankle turn goes out of bounds. Hamaguchi attempts
outside thigh trap, but Wang spins around behind for the final point.

Other medal matches at 72 kg
F3 - Ochirbat Burmaa (MGL) df. Yun So-Young (KOR), 2-0 (3-0, 3-0)
F3 - Yana Panova (KGZ) df. Kaliraman Sonika (IND), 2-0 (2-0, 1-0)