By William May
（Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
：wmay52@hotmail.com）
May wrestling news
NSSU WINS EAST COLLEGIATE LEAGUE CROWN
TOKYO (May 18) - Defending champion Nippon Sports Science
University (NSSU) defeated archrival Nihon University 5-2 to remain kingpins
of the East Japan Collegiate Wrestling League.
The title was the 25th East Japan students’ title overall
for NSSU which needed a big win over Waseda University in the pool A final
to ensure themselves a berth in the championship final. Having lost to
Yamanashi Gakuin 3-4 in pool A competition, NSSU stormed past Waseda 5-2
and advanced to the final on criteria.
NSSU, YGU and Waseda each finished with six wins and
a loss, but NSSU posted a greater number of wins in individual bouts throughout
the pool competition.
Meanwhile, Nihon University lost in the pool final 3-4
to Takushoku University, but advanced to the championship on criteria.
NSSU captain Tetsuya Saikawa was named the outstanding
wrestler of the competition while NU’s Noriyuki Takatsuka was awarded the
fighting spirit prize.
RITSUMEIKAN
WINS WEST JAPAN COLLEGIATE CROWN
OSAKA (May 12-13) - Ritsumeikan University of Kyoto
defeated defending champion Tokuyama University 4-3 to win its first West
Japan collegiate wrestling championship title in a year and a half.
The triumph was Ritsumeikan’s 12th overall championship
in the west Japan students’ meets which are held in both the spring and
fall. Kansai University won the title in the second
division.
SCHEDULE CHANGED FOR MEN’S NAT’L TEAM TRIALS
TOKYO (May 18) - The Japan Wrestling Federation has
announced a change in schedule for the Meiji Nyugyo Cup men’s invitational
meet, which also serves as Japanese world team trials.
The Meiji Nyugyo meet will also feature special wrestle-offs
for the Japanese women’s team at 51, 59 and 67 kg.
The new schedule will
be as follows:
June 9 (Saturday) - Freestyle 66, 84, 120 kg; Greco-roman 55, 60, 66, 84,
96 kg
June 10 (Sunday) - Freestyle 55, 60, 74, 96 kg;
Greco-roman 74, 120 kg
The trials will be broadcast on Nihon Television at
1:50-3:20 a.m. on June 10-11.
HATTORI TO SKIP WOMEN’S
WORLD TEAM WRESTLE-OFF
TOKYO (May 31) - National champion Ninako Hattori, citing
her lack of conditioning, will miss the women’s special world team wrestle-offs
on June 10 at Komazawa Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Hattori of the Chukyo Women’s University Club won the
national title at 51 kg in January but sat out the Japan Beverage Queen’s
Cup tourney in April plagued by a handful of niggling injuries that hampered
her preparations.
The wrestle-off at 51 kg will now feature Queens Cup winner
Mizuho Shibata and reigning world champion Hitomi Sakamoto, who came up
short in her bid for a berth at 55 kg against Saori Yoshida.
NU ALUM BLANCO TAKES BRONZE
AT PAN AM C’SHIPS
TOKYO (May 24) - Nihon University alum Maximo Blanco
won a bronze medal for Venezuela at the Pan American wrestling championships
May 18-20 in San Salvador.
Blanco took third at 74 kg in the freestyle competition
behind Ivan Fundora of Cuba and Joe Heskett of the United States. Blanco
wrestled and studied at Sendai Ikuei high school in northeastern Japan
before going to Nihon University.
JAPAN
BEACH NATIONALS SET FOR TOKYO ON JULY 29
TOKYO (May 30) - The third all-Japan beach wrestling
championships will be held in Tokyo at the seaside park in Daiba on July
29, the Japan Wrestling Federation announced.
The previous two national beach wrestling meets were
held in Oarai, Ibaraki, making this year’s nationals the first to be staged
in Tokyo. Details of the competition are still being discussed and will
be announced later.
The title was the 25th East Japan students’ title overall
for NSSU which needed a big win over Waseda University in the pool A final
to ensure themselves a berth in the championship final. Having lost to
Yamanashi Gakuin 3-4 in pool A competition, NSSU stormed past Waseda 5-2
and advanced to the final on criteria.