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MEDAL MATCHES, AUGUST 16 - Canada, Japan win first women's golds

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by Gary Abbott

BEIJING, CHINA - The first two gold medals in women's freestyle wrestling went to Canada and Japan at the China Agricultural University gymnasium on Saturday.

In a major upset at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Canada's three-time World medalist Carol Huyhn defeated two-time world champion Chiharu Icho of Japan in the finals, 4-0, 2-1.

Huyhn controlled the first period with a strong 4-0 win. In the second, she hit an arm spin and a one-point ankle lace to take a 2-0 lead. Icho's only score came in the closing seconds, when officials penalized Huyhn with a point and a caution for fleeing the hold.

Huyhn was a 2001 World silver medalist, and won World bronze medals in 2000 and 2005.

Winning her second Olympic gold medal Saori Yoshida of Japan, who pinned China's Xu Li in the second period, 2-0, 0:43 at 55 kg/121 lbs. Yoshida had two takedowns in the first period. In the second period, after a takedown with exposure, Yoshida ran a bar arm, putting Xu on her back and securing the fall.

Yoshida has also won five World titles. Her only loss internationally on the Senior level came at the 2008 World Cup, where she lost to American Marcie Van Dusen.

In the first bronze medal match at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan got her offense going to defeat Tatyana Bakatyuk of Kazakhstan, 2-1, 8-0. Stadnik broke a 1-1 tie in the first period with a takedown to take the period. In the second period, she threw Bakatyuk for a three-point takedown, then turned her twice for the technical fall.

2004 Olympic gold medalist Irini Merlini of Ukraine won her second career Olympic medal, by pinning Clarissa Chun of the United States in the second period of their 48 kg/105.5-pound bronze-medal match, 2-0, 1:06. Merlini broke a 1-1 tie in the second period by taking Chun to her back for the fall.

In the first 55 kg/121 lbs. bronze medal match, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Tonya Verbeek won her second career Olympic medal, defeating Ida-Theres Nerell of Sweden, 1-0, 1-0. In the second period, Verbeek scored a takedown with three seconds left on the clock to seal the victory.

Scoring a sudden pin in the first period, Jackeline Renteria of Colombia pinned Ana Paval of Romania in 1:04 in the other bronze-medal match at 55 kg/121 lbs.

OLYMPIC GAMES
Women's wrestling competition

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Carol Huyhn (Canada)
Silver - Chiharu Icho (Japan)
Bronze - Mariya Stadnyk (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Irini Merlini (Ukraine)
5th - Tatyana Bakatyuk (Kazakhstan)
5th - Clarissa Chun (USA)
7th - Vanessa Boubryemm (France)
8th - Kim Hyung-Joo (Korea)
9th - Ingrid Medrano (El Salvador)
10th - Estera Dober (Romania)

Gold match - Huyhn dec. Icho, 4-0, 2-1
Bronze match - Stadnik dec. Bakatyuk, 2-1, 8-0
Bronze match - Merlini pin Chun, 2-0, 1:06

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Saori Yoshida (Japan)
Silver - Xu Li (China)
Bronze - Tonya Verbeek (Canada)
Bronze - Jackeline Renteria (Colombia)
5th - Ida-Theres Nerell (Sweden)
5th - Ana Paval (Romania)
7th - Olga Smirnova (Kazakhstan)
8th - Natalia Golts (Russia)
9th - Marcie Van Dusen (USA)
10th - Ludmilla Cristea (Moldova)

Gold match - Yoshida pin Xu, 2-0, 0:43
Bronze match - Verbeek dec. Nerell, 1-0, 1-0
Bronze match - Renteria pin Paval, 1:04




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