TOKYO, June 9: Japan's world champion Chiharu Icho will be allowed to take part in the world wrestling championships in Sept, President of the Japan Wrestling Federation Tomiaki Fukuda said on Saturday.

Athletes competing in the world championships from Sept 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan, are usually required to have taken part in each continental championship.

But the 25-year-old Icho, the 48-kilogram world title holder and also the 51kg champion in 2003, failed to make weight for the Asian championships after being bothered by nagging lower back pain last month.

Fukuda said he had received permission from the president of the Federation Internationale des Luttes Associees, world wrestling’s governing body, allowing Icho to defend her title.

The championships are also the first qualifying event for next year’s Beijing Olympics.—AFP