To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
By William May
(Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
:wmay52@hotmail.com)
OFFICIATING CREW IN WOMEN'S 72K FINAL DEMOTED
TOKYO (November 30) - Three officials in the women's 72-kg gold medal
final at this year's world championships have been demoted after failing
to take action for a head butt by eventual winner Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria.
Mario Saletnig, head of FILA's officiating commission, told Japanese
journalists of the sanctions during the FILA coaches clinic for female
wrestling held in Tokyo, November 23-26. Zlateva head-butted Japan's Kyoko
Hamaguchi during their match in Guangzhou, China, but the officiating crew
did not penalize or caution the Bulgarian wrestler who went on to win her
first world championship title.
Hamaguchi required surgery for a broken nose. The Japan Wrestling Federation
submitted a complaint to FILA along with a video of the head butt.
Saletnig explained that three of the four officials judging the bout
were demoted, but the fourth official was not demoted since he retired
following the match. Saletnig stressed, however, that the result of the
bout cannot be changed, leaving Hamaguchi, a former five-time world champion,
with her second silver medal in as many years.