Wre: Controversy as Wang upsets world champion Hamaguchi

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2004
Wre: Controversy as Wang upsets world champion Hamaguchi

By Stefano Blin

ATHENS, Aug 23 AFP - China's Wang Xu produced a major upset here today, ousting Japan's
five-time world champion Kyoko Hamaguchi to claim a place in the final of the Olympic
women's 72kg freestyle wrestling.

Wang, 18, will grapple for the gold medal against Gouzel Maniourova after the Russian
beat Svitlana Sayenko of the Ukraine in her semi-final bout.

The final will take place later on Monday, along with the 48kg, 55kg and 63kg finals.

Wang's shock win was unexpected and not without controversy.

Hamaguchi, flag-bearer for Japan at the opening ceremony, felt Wang was unfairly awarded
two points for a move which she had initiated, a decision which cost the reigning 72kg
world champion a shot at the gold medal.

The 26-year-old's father and coach Heigo, a former professional wrestler, was so incensed
by the referee's decison that he had to be restrained by police.

Japan's Chiharu Icho and Irini Merleni of the Ukraine will contest for the first ever
Olympic gold medal in women's wrestling after they both comfortably won their 48kg bouts.

Icho, winner of the Asian championship in Tokyo earlier this year, defeated France's
Angelique Berthenet, while Merleni, the reigning 48kg world champion, beat Patricia Miranda
of the United States.

Canada's Tonya Verbeek will take on Japan's Saori Yoshida in the 55kg final.

Verbeek, winner of the Pan American championship last year, overcame Sweden's Ida-Theres
Karlsson, while current 55kg world champion Yoshida narrowly edged France's Anna Gomis.

In the 63kg final, American Sara McMann will face Kaori Icho, younger sister of Chiharu.

Runner-up at the world championships in that category, McMann proved too strong for
Greece's Stavroula Zygouri and Icho won on points against Lise Legrand of France.

The aim of each wrestler is to pin their opponent's back firmly against the mat for
at least two seconds, a move known as a fall, which automatically wins the match.

Victory can also be achieved by accumulating 10 points or by finishing with more points
over the two three-minute rounds.

Women's wrestling is making its debut at the Olympics.

AFP nhp

KEYWORD: OLY WRE

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