To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
By Ikuo Higuchi
(Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
Kyoko Hamaguchi and Cristine Nordhagen fought
in Japan
Kyoko Hamaguchi, a three-time world champion,
revenged Cristine Nordhagen, a last year's
75kg world champion, Canada, during the camp
of the Japanese national team in Japan on
21-26 August and she will fight with strong
confident at the World Championships in New York on 27-29 September.
The Canada national team came to Japan
to train on 14 August. After training at
Chukyo Women's University in Aichi prefecture,
they joined the Japanese national team at
Tokamachi city in Niigata prefecture on 21.
Kyoko Hamaguchi and Cristine Nordhagen met
there after one year. They enjoyed re-meeting
like a sisiter and trained together.
Nordhagen was a 68kg world champion
and Hamaguchi was a 75kg world chmpion in
1998. Since Nordhagen went up to 75kg for
her challenge next year, two world champion
fought together at the semi-final at 75kg.
Hamaguchi beat the great Canadian wrestler
by 5-3 and got a valuer world champion. However
Nordhagen beat Hamaguchi by 8-4 at the semi-final
in the 2000 world championships.
Nordhagen will particate at 68kg this year,
so they won't compete together in New York.
When Hamaguchi knew this fact, she was very
disappointed because she lost the oppotunity
of revenging Nordhagen. But this time she
could get the chance to fight against Nordahagen.
She became to be very happy and burned her
fighting spirit.
When the sparring started, Hamaguchi's
eyes changed to those of a wild animal. There
weren't any cheering parties and any referees.
The rule was respests for their opponent.
The result would remained in only their minds,
not in any documents in wrestling comunities.
Hamaguchi attacked the greatest and strongest
opponent, she thinks, positively and exceeded
her. She never lost any points.
Hamaguchi said, "I didin't expect
to fight against Nordhagen, but I wanted to do even if a sparring.
It is very lucky for me. (By beating her)
I could prove my training in this one year
is right. I am very happy to meet her here
and fight against the current world champion."
Since they won't fight together this year,
Hamaguchi has more feeling of the best senior
and freind than that of a rival to Nordhagen.
Both wrestlers sweared the victories in
the World championshoips in New York on 29
September. Madison Square Garden was the
palace for pro-wrestlers. Hamaguchi's father,
Heigo "Animal" Hamaguchi, who was
a famous pro-wrestler, aspired to fight,
but he never fought there. Kyoko Hamaguchi
will burn her all passion to come true her
father's unachieved dream.
We believe she will win in New York.