To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

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

JAPAN REBOUNDS FOR 3RD, CHINA RETAINS WORLD CUP CROWN





TAIYUAN, China (January 20) - Japan rebounded from its upset loss the previous day to claim the bronze medal with a 5-2 victory over Kazakhstan on the final day of the World Cup of women’s wrestling.

Japan, which fell to the United States 4-3 the opening day of competition, fielded a younger group of wrestlers for the bronze medal match against the up-and-coming Kazakh squad.

Chikako Matsukawa, filling in for world champion Saori Yoshida, dominated former Asia cadet bronze medalist Saltanat Abdrakmanova for a 5-0, 2-0 victory at 55 kg.

Meanwhile, in the gold medal final, defending champion China edged the U.S. 4-3 for its second World Cup title. Ukraine finished in fifth place and Canada sixth.

Bronze medal final
Japan 5, Kazakhstan 2

48 - Makiko Sakamoto df. Tatyana Bakatyuk, 2-1 (1-0, 4-4B, 2L-2)
51 - Hitomi Sakamoto df. Aiym Abdildina by fall, 1P=0:46 (6-0)
55 - Chikako Matsukawa df. Saltanat Abdrakhmanova, 2-0 (5-0, 2-0)
59 - Kei Yamana lost to Olga Smirnova, 0-2 (0-1, 1-2)
63 - Mio Nishimaki lost to Yelena Shalygina, 0-2 (0-3, 0-1=2:05)
67 - Mami Shinkai df. Olga Kalinna, 2-0 (3-0, 4-0)
72 - Asuka Sano df. Darya Kardenko, 2-0 (1-0=2:08, 1-0)