JWF PICKS TRIO OF NAT’L TEAM DIRECTORS FOR 2016 OLYMPIC CYCLE

TOKYO (March 20) – The Japan Wrestling Federation created separate coaching staffs for each of the three styles on the Olympic program for 2016, adding Shigeki Nishiguchi to the national team staff for the first time to head up preparations for the greco-roman squad.

It is the first time that a separate staff for each style has been named and follows Japan's success, including four gold medals, at the 2012 Games under different leadership for the Japanese men and women.

Yuji Takada, the JWF's chief executive officer, will chair the JWF's national team committee and double as the head of the men's freestyle team coaching staff.  Takada previously served as the national team director from 1996 to 2000.

Meanwhile, Nishiguchi makes his debut on the national team coaching staff as the head coach of the greco-roman team while Kazuhito Sakae remains at the helm of the women's national team for a third straight Olympic cycle.

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