2015.03.09

Japan Defeats Russia for 8th World Cup of Women’s Wrestling Crown

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (March 8 ) – World champion Chiho HAMADA edged European champ Maria GUROVA as Japan won the first five bouts in a 5-3 triumph in the championship final of the World Cup of Women’s Wrestling.

Defending champion Japan, which blanked Russia 8-0 in the 2014 World Cup, repeated as cup holder and claimed its eighth overall World Cup. The triumph was also Japan’s first overseas since winning the 2005 World Cup in France.

After Hamada’s 4-3 win at 53kg over Gurova, Hikari SUGAWARA and Risako KAWAI defeated world silver medalists Irina OLOGONOVA and Valerie KOBLOVA to give Japan a 4-0 lead. Kanako MURATA secured the Japanese victory with a technical fall over Zhargalma TSYRENOVA at 60kg.

The victory was also the first time that Japanese team won the World Cup without an Olympic Games representative on the squad.

Championship Final

Japan df. Russia, 5-3

(Japan repeats as champion, wins 8th overall title)

48kg – Yu MIYAHARA df. Nadezhda FEDOROVA, 14-6

53kg – Chiho HAMADA df. Maria GUROVA, 4-3

55kg – Hikari SUGAWARA df. Irina OLOGONOVA, 6-0

58kg – Risako KAWAI df. Valeria KOBLOVA, 6-1

60kg – Kanako MURATA df. Zhargalma TSYRENOVA by TF, 11-0, 4:34

63kg – Yurika ITO lost to Inna TRAZHUKOVA by forfeit, 0:00

69kg – Kayoko KUDO lost to Natalia VOROBIEVA by fall, 3:25 (2-12)

75kg – Hiroe SUZUKI lost to Ekaterina BUKINA, 0-4