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By William May
（Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public Information Committee：wmay52@hotmail.com）
JAPAN DEFEATS UKRAINE 5-2 FOR BRONZE MEDALS AT WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
NANJING, China (March 28) – Japan defeated Ukraine 5-2 in the dual for third place and claimed the bronze medals for a third straight year at the World Cup of women's wrestling.
Former junior world champion Fuyuko Mimura dropped the opening bout at 48kg, but Japan rebounded with four straight wins to secure the bronze medals. In that run Chikako Matsukawa notched her fourth straight fall at 55kg and Kaori Icho won her fourth match in a row at 63kg.
“In our opening match against China, we were a little shaky,” said Japanese head coach Kazuhito Sakae. “If we had wrestled like we wrestled in the second and third duals, I think we could have won (against China).”
“I think we need the kind of practice so we're able to wrestle our best from the very beginning.”
In the championship final, China rolled over the United States 6-1 for their fourth World Cup triumph in a row.
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Third-place final: Japan 5, Ukraine 2
48kg – Fuyuko Mimura lost to Nataliya Pulkovska, 1-2 (1-1, 1-2, 1-1)
51kg – Yuri Kai df. Yuliya Blahinya, 2-0 (3-0, 5-3)
55kg – Chikako Matsukawa df. Iryna Khariv by fall, 3P=0:59 (2-2, 8-4, F6-0)
59kg – Ayako Shoda df. Iryna Husyak, 2-0 (1-0, 3-2)
63kg – Kaori Icho df. Maryana Kvyatkovska, 2-0 (2-0, 1-0)
67kg – Mami Shinkai lost to Alla Cherkasova, 0-2 (1-4, 1-1)
72kg – Kyoko Hamaguchi df. Nataliia Palamarchuk, 1-2 (1-0, 2-3, 0-2)
Championship final: China 6, United States 1
Fifth-place final: Russia 4, Mongolia 3
Seventh-place final: Canada 5, Azerbaijan 2
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