August 17, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 14, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 16: Japan's five-time world champion Saori Yoshida retained her Olympic crown on Saturday, while Carol Huynh brought Canada their first gold of the Games as the women's freestyle wrestling got underway.

Yoshida overwhelmed China's Xu Li in the 55kg final while Huynh, a daughter of Vietnamese refugees outpointed another Japanese and world champion Chiharu Icho for the 48kg title.

Yoshida led from the start taking the first period 2-0 and pressed the 18-year-old Chinese for the fall after scoring a two-point takedown in the second. She made a back flip in joy and was hoisted aloft by her coach Kazuhito Sakae.

It was a predictable start for Japan's four women wrestlers here, the same line-up who won two golds, one silver and a bronze at the Athens Games four years ago when women's wrestling made its Olympic debut.

Icho's younger sister and Olympic 63kg champion Kaori and 72kg bronze medallist Kyoko Hamaguchi were to compete on Sunday, the final day of the four-event women's competition.

Yoshida beat Canada's Tonya Verbeek 2-0 in the semi-finals, a rematch of their final clash at the Athens Games four years ago.

Xu moved through a block devoid of Olympic or world medallists, beating Renteira in the semi-finals.

“I will learn from this loss for my future training,” she said. “I will practice harder and I want to defeat Yoshida in the future.”

The 27-year-old Huynh took the first period 4-0 with a takedown and a point from Icho's move outside the contest area.

Icho was forced out of the ring twice in the second, and although she battled back to score a point but could not maintain the momentum.

“I've been working really hard on being more confident,” said Huynh.

“My parents always worked hard to support my family. It's very special for them to be here and to see me reach my dream,” she added.

Her mother was Chinese born in Vietnam and her father moved there from China as a child.—AFP