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Yamamoto wins 3rd title in women's world c'ships

Kyodo News Service 11/25/2001

Japan Economic Newswire

Japanese defending champion Seiko Yamamoto turned back upset-minded Liubov
Volosova of Russia with a takedown in overtime Saturday to claim her third
straight title in the women's wrestling world championships.
Yamamoto defeated Volosova 4-1 with a three-point takedown 1:14 into
overtime in the 56-kilogram championship at the Palace of Sport in Sofia as
she set her sights on the 2004 Olympics in Athens. 'I hope I can savor this
sensation again in Athens,' the 21-year-old Nihon University student said
after her victory.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in September approved the addition
of women's wrestling to the program for the 2004 Games, but demanded that
the six women's weight categories be cut to four for the Olympics.
Yamamoto, widely considered one of the top female wrestlers in the world,
won her second straight title at 56 kg after winning the 51-kg crown in 1999.
Yamamoto was voted the outstanding wrestler of the inaugural women's
wrestling World Cup earlier this month in France, where she also needed
overtime to defeat the up-and-coming Volosova.
At the other women's weight categories, Misato Shimizu advanced to the
championship bracket at 46 kg, but was pinned by Brigitte Wagner of Germany
in 5:29 and had to settle for fifth.
In the men's freestyle world championships, Japan failed to see any of its
four wrestlers advance beyond the preliminary rounds in the first four
weight categories.
The championships were originally scheduled to be held in New York in late
September but were postponed and re-located after the terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.