By William May
（Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public Information Committee：wmay52@hotmail.com）
JAPAN FALLS TO CHINA, MEETS UKRAINE FOR 3RD IN WORLD CUP
NANJING, China (March 27) – Japan fell to China in the opening round of the World Cup of women's wrestling for a second straight year and will meet Ukraine for third place after finishing the first day of bouts with two wins and a loss.
China, which won its three preliminary duals in Group B, will meet Group A winner the United States with a chance for its fourth straight World Cup crown. The U.S., meanwhile, will try to stop China for its second World Cup triumph and first since 2003.
In the opening round dual with China, Japan dropped the first two weight categories but narrowed the deficit to 2-3 after wins by Chikako Matsukawa and Kaori Icho(photo). Matsukawa came from behind at 55kg for a win over 2007 Asia champion Yang Shenkian by fall, while Icho won in her first major international competition since winning the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics,
Last year's 72kg world champion Qin Xiaoqing wrapped up the victory for China when she defeated 2008 world runner-up at 67kg Mami Shinkai, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0.
Former world champion Kyoko Hamaguchi, making her first national team appearance since October 2008, closed out the dual with a 2-0 win over 2008 world silver medalist Hong Yang. Japan, however, still came up short 3-4 in the team score.
The Japanese women, however, rebounded for 6-1 wins over Russia and Canada to book their place in Sunday's bronze medal final.
Individual results for Japan in the preliminary rounds:
Group B:
China 4, Japan 3
48 – Fuyuko Mimura lost to Zhao Shasha, 0-2 (2-5, 1-1)
51 – Yuri Kai lost to Li Hui, 0-2 (0-5, 4-5)
55 – Chikako Matsukawa df. Yang Shenkian by fall, 2P=1:46 (0-7, F5-1)
59 – Ayako Shoda lost to Liu Fengming (0-2 (1-2, 0-3)
63 – Kaori Icho df. Cui Haili, 2-0 (1-0, 1-0)
67 – Mami Shinkai lost to Qin Xiaoqing, 1-2 (0-1, 1-0, 0-1)
72 – Kyoko Hamaguchi df. Hong Yang, 2-0 (3-2, 2-0)
Japan 6, Russia 1
48 – Fuyuko Mimura df. Lubov Salnikova by fall, 3P=1:21 (0-1, 2-1, F3-0)
51 – Yuri Kai df. Marina Vilmova, 2-0 (1-0,3-0)
55 – Chikako Matsukawa df. Irina Kisel by fall, 1P=1:27 (F5-0)
59 – Ayako Shoda df. Ekaterina Melnikova, 2-0 (2-0, 2-0=2:15)
63 – Kaori Icho df. Natalya Laushkina, 2-0 (1-0, 2-0)
67 – Mami Shinkai df. Inna Trazhukova, 2-1 (1-2, 2-0, 6-0)
72 – Kyoko Hamaguchi lost to Natalya Vorobeva by fall, 1P=0:35 (F0-3)
Japan 6, Canada 1
48 – Fuyuko Mimura df. Lindsay Rushton, 2-0 (1-0, 7-2)
51 – Yuri Kai df. Jessica MacDonald, 2-0 (1-0, 3-1)
55 – Chikako Matsukawa df. Jillian Gallays by fall, 1P=0:58 (F5-0)
59 – Ayako Shoda df. Katie Patroch, 2-0 (3-0, 1-0)
63 – Kaori Icho df. Justine Bouchard, 2-0 (1-0, 4-1)
67 – Mami Shinkai df. Megan Buydens, 2-0 (2-0, 2-0)
72 – Kyoko Hamaguchi lost to Ohenewa Akuffo, 0-2 (0-1=2:02, 0-1=2:30)
Group B, other dual meet scores
China 5, Canada 2
China 5, Russia 2
Russia 4, Canada 3
Group B rankings:
1. China (3-0); 2. Japan (2-1); 3. Russia (1-2); 4. Canada (0-3)
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Group A, dual meet results
United States 6, Mongolia 1
United States 5, Ukraine 2
United States 6, Azerbaijan 1
Ukraine 6, Azerbaijan 1
Ukraine 4, Mongolia 3
Mongolia 4, Azerbaijan 3
Group A rankings
1. United States (3-0); 2. Ukraine (2-1); 3. Mongolia (1-2); 4. Azerbaijan (0-3)
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