By Gary Anderson

Japan claimed two gold medals on the first day of women's freestyle competition at the Wrestling World Championships ©United World WrestlingJapanese wrestlers won two of four gold medals on offer as the women's freestyle competition got underway at the Wrestling World Championships in Tashkent.

Eri Tosaka got the ball rolling with a 10-2 demolition of Poland's Iwona Nina Matkowska in the 48 kilogram final to retain her title.

North Korean Hyon Gyong Kim and Mariya Stadnyk of Azerbaijan secured the bronze medals with wins over American Alyssa Rae Nicole Lampe and Romania's Emilia Alina Vuc respectively.

Chiho Hamada replaced compatriot Saori Yoshida as the 55kg champion when she defeated Russian Irina Ologonova 4-3 in the decider.

Yoshida had held the title since 2002 but is set to compete in the 53kg class later this week.

An 11-1 scoreline saw Ukrainian Iryna Khariv secure bronze against Spain's Karima Sanchez while a 10-0 technical fall meant Helen Maroulis prevailed against Katarzyna Krawczyk of Poland.

Germany's Aline Focken denied a hat-trick of world titles for Japan by winning the 69kg category at the Gymnastics Palace in the Uzbekistan capital.

The 23-year-old came through a tight contest with Japan's Sara Dosho in the final who took the early initiative with a double-leg takedown.

But the German regrouped to execute a takedown from behind with 20 seconds left on the clock to emerge with the victory on a score of 5-4.

"I can't believe it," said Focken afterwards, the first world champion from Germany since Brigitte Wagner's triumph in the 48kg category at the 2002 World Championships in Chalkida, Greece.

"If I can sleep tonight, I will try to understand it all in the morning."

Germany's Aline Focken won her 69kg final clash with Japan's Sara Dosho  ©United World WrestlingGermany's Aline Focken won her 69kg final clash with Japan's Sara Dosho
©United World Wrestling



Natalia Vorobieva of Russia secured a fall over Sweden's Anna Jenny Eva Maria Fransson to claim bronze.

The other bronze went to Latvian Laura Skujina who overcame Diana Gonzalez of Mexico.

Last year's junior world champion, Tserenchimed Sukhee became Mongolia's second-ever world champion in female wrestling when she triumphed in the 60kg final.

Sukhee followed in the footsteps of Battsetseg Soronzonbold, in 2010, defeating Yulia Ratkevich of Azerbaijan 12-3 in an impressive display.

"Mongolian wrestling and the team are getting better," said Sukhee.

"We are working like a team and we can see the results."

In the bronze medal bouts, Natalya Golts of Russia threw a headlock in the first period and had Finland's Petra Olli on her back most of the second with counter throws for a 12-1 win.

Last year's world silver medalist Taybe Yusein of Bulgaria added a bronze to her collection with a single-leg takedown and exposure on her way to a 6-0 victory over European champion Johanna Mattsson of Sweden.

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