To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
By William May
(Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
:wmay52@hotmail.com)
YOSHIDA LEADS JAPANESE DELEGATION AT ASIAN GAMES
DOHA (December 2) - Japanese gold medal favorite Saori Yoshida led the
Japanese delegation into Khalifa Stadium as the 15th Asian Games officially
got under way in a gala opening ceremony Friday.
Some 10,000 participants representing 45 national Olympic committees are
expected to take part in the 15-day event being held for the first time
in an Arab country. Yoshida, unbeaten in international competition, carried
Japan's flag at the head of the Japanese delegation, which marched in 13th
in the parade of participating countries.
Yoshida was also the flag-bearer for the Japanese delegation at last year's
Universiade in Turkey, but after the ceremony said that the feeling in
Doha was completely different. ・It was really amazing like the Olympics,・Yoshida
told reporters.
The Asian Games wrestling competition gets under way December 9-10 with
greco-roman at the Aspire sports complex, followed by the women on December
11 and men's freestyle December 13-14.
Yoshida, who won the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Korea and is
undefeated in international competition, will be the odds-on favorite at
55 kg when the women take to the mats.