Japan and Russia set to dominate wrestling in Beijing

(BEIJING, June 9) -- A total of 7 men's and 4 women's gold medals will be given out in wrestling competitions in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Based on past performances, the Russian men's team and the Japanese women's team are the favorites.

Men's Discipline

The Russians took five gold medals in Athens four years ago. In the 2005 and 2006 world championships, they won 5 gold medals and 3 gold medals, respectively. They swept the 2007 world championships, winning all the gold medals in freestyle wrestling and one gold medal in Greco-Roman. With such a strong legacy, they have overwhelming advantages in this competition.

33 year old 74-kilo class freestyle veteran Buvaisar Saitiev is the ace of the team. From 1995 to 2006, he won 17 championship titles out of 19 international events, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2004 Athens Olympics. For the past two years, he was plagued with injuries, but he is determined to wrestle in Beijing this summer to obtain his third Olympic gold medal. He was decorated with the Order of Friendship by the Russian president for his contribution to the sport of wrestling. His younger brother, Adam Saitiev, also won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Along with the Saitiev brothers, a rising star on the Russian team is a giant 23 year old who competes in the 84-kilo class. During his professional career, Georgi Ketoev has impressed audiences (and rivals) one after another.

Women's Discipline

The dominant force in women's wrestling is the Japanese team. They took two gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal in Athens. In the four years following the 2004 Games, their record has been tremendous, exemplified by three gold medals in the 2007 world championships.

The 2002 and 2003 world champion is also the 2004 Asian champion, 25 year old 55-kilo class Saori Yoshida, the most important wrestler on the Japanese team. She didn't lose a single international match until January of 2007. Other key wrestlers include 48-kilo class Athens Olympic silver medalist Chiharu Icho and her younger sister, 63-kilo class Athens Olympics gold medalist Kaori Icho, who has won 17 gold medals out of 19 international competitions from 2002 to 2008. In the 72-kilo class, Japan is covered by Athens Olympic bronze medalist Kyoko Hamaguchi.

However strong they may be, the Americans, Bulgarians, and Chinese may pose a threat to the Japanese superpower in their quest for Olympic gold.

The Americans have Athens Olympic 63-kilo class silver medalist Sara McMann and 48-kilo class bronze medalist Patricia Miranda on their side. Other notable wrestlers are the 2002 USA Women's Wrestler of the Year, 72-kilo class Kristie Maranon, and Marcie Van Dusen, who ended Saori Yoshida's winning streak in January of 2007.

The Bulgarians' main hope is Stanka Zlateva, who won three straight European championships and 2 consecutive world championships in the 72-kilo class.

The winning of Wang Xu of China over Hamaguchi Kyoko in the 72-kilo final in Athens marked the rise of the Chinese team, who won 5 gold medals in the four following years.