By William May
（Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
：wmay52@hotmail.com）
JAPAN FALLS TO CHINA, WILL FACE UKRAINE FOR 3RD IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
TAIYUAN, China (March 21) - Japan fell to defending champion China in the
opening match of the World Cup of women’s wrestling, but rebounded for
two wins in Pool A to advance to final for third place against Ukraine.
The young Japanese squad opened with a pair of wins by Fuyuko Mimura and Yu Horiuchi against China, but the hosts reeled off five straight wins for the first-round victory. These included a 2-1 triumph by Meng Lili over reigning world champion Mio Nishimaki with a force-out in the closing seconds of the third period.
The Japanese, however, bounced back with a 6-1 win over Belarus, and then
a 4-3 win over the United States. In the U.S. dual, junior world champion
Mimura edged senior world champ Clarissa Chun 2-1(photo).
China, the winner of Pool A, will face Pool B winner Canada for the World Cup crown.
Individual results from Japan’s Pool A matches:
Round 1 - China 5, Japan 2
48 - Fuyuko Mimura df. Liu Jie by fall, 2P=1:19 (1-1, F4-0)
51 - Yu Horiuchi df. Dai Shiju, 2-1 (5-0, 1-3, 3-0)
55 - Chikako Matsukawa lost to Xu Li, 0-2 (1-4, 0-3)
59 - Kei Yamana lost to Zhang Lan, 1-2 (0-3, 0-3)
63 - Mio Nishimaki lost to Meng Lili, 1-2 (1-0, 0-1, 1-1)
67 - Yoshiko Inoue lost to Qin Xiaoqing, 0-2 (0-1, 0-1)
72 - Asuka Sano lost to Wang Jiao, 0-2 (0-4, 3-4)
The young Japanese squad opened with a pair of wins by Fuyuko Mimura and Yu Horiuchi against China, but the hosts reeled off five straight wins for the first-round victory. These included a 2-1 triumph by Meng Lili over reigning world champion Mio Nishimaki with a force-out in the closing seconds of the third period. 