To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
By William May
(Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
Kyodo World Services, senior sports writer:wmay52@hotmail.com)
JWF NAMES LINE-UP FOR FEMALE WORLD C’SHIPS
TOKYO (July 16) - The Japan Wrestling
Federation named its line-up for the women’s
world championships and World Cup meet this
fall, including Seiko Yamamoto on a squad
that won three individual titles last year.
Yamamoto, who has won three world titles
in the past at 51 kg and 55 kg, was named
to the 59-kg position after she defeated
Asia champion Rena Iwama 4-0 in a trial match
at the national sports science center in
Tokyo.
In addition to Yamamoto, the team traveling
to New York for the world meet in September
will include reigning champions Saori Yoshida
(55 kg), Kaori Icho (63), Kyoko Hamaguchi
(72) and world silver medalist Chiharu Icho
(51)
.
Chiharu Icho was named to the squad after
former FILA wrestler of the year Hitomi Sakamoto
withdrew from the July 16 trial matches,
citing poor physical condition.
The JWF, however, selected Sakamoto’s
17-year-old sister Makiko for the spot at
48 kg after the Aichi high school student
defeated veteran Miyu Yamamoto for a third
time this year.
Asia champion Norie Saito rounds out
the team at 67 kg as she aims to improve
on her seventh-place finish in the world
meet last year in Halkida, Greece.
The team will continue to train at the
center until July 22 and has scheduled training
camps for August 1-7 and August 18-23 for
the Nihon University training facility in
Niigata Prefecture. The women’s world championships
along with the men’s freestyle world championships
are scheduled for New York’s Madison Square
Garden on September 12-14.
The women’s World Cup, featuring the
top teams in female wrestling, meet will
be held in Tokyo at Yoyogi No. 2 Gymnasium
on October 11-12. National team selections
are:
World championships
48 kg - Makiko Sakamoto (CWU high school)
51 kg - Chiharu Icho (Chukyo Women’s University)
55 kg - Saori Yoshida (CWU)
59 kg - Seiko Yamamoto (Japan Beverage)
63 kg - Kaori Icho (CWU)
67 kg - Norie Saito (Japan Beverage)
72 kg - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan Beverage)
World Cup (two selections per weight category
permitted)
48 kg - Makiko Sakamoto (CWU high school),
Miyu Yamamoto (Purebred wrestling club)
51 kg - Chiharu Icho (CWU), Hitomi Sakamoto
(CWU)
55 kg - Saori Yoshida (CWU)
59 kg - Seiko Yamamoto (Japan Beverage),
Rena Iwama (Replay wrestling club)
63 kg - Kaori Icho (CWU), Ayako Shoda (Toyo
University)
67 kg - Norie Saito (Japan Beverage), Eri
Sakamoto (CWU)
72 kg - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan Beverage)
Final trial match results:
48 kg - M. Sakamoto df. M. Yamamoto 4-2
51 kg - C. Icho df. H. Sakamoto by default
59 kg - S. Yamamoto df. Iwama 4-0
63 kg - K. Icho df. Shoda 3-0
67 kg - Saito df. E. Sakamoto by TF 10-0