Tatiana Padilla gets advice from National Women's Coach Terry Steiner during the 2009 World Championships in Denmark. Tony Rotundo photo

FILA, the international wrestling federation, has released the pool pairings for the eight teams entered in the Women’s World Cup in Nanjing City, China, March 27-28.

Here are the pools, with their 2009 World Championships finish listed:

Group A: No. 1 Azerbaijan, No. 4 Ukraine; No. 6 United States; No. 7 Mongolia.

Group B: No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Canada, No. 5 Russia, No. 8 China

The pool dual meet competition will be held on Saturday, March 27, with the medal round dual meets scheduled for Sunday, March 28.

USA Wrestling National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner is upbeat about the chances for Team USA.

“I believe our women are ready for the challenges we face the next couple of days,” said Steiner. "The US team has had a long hard winter of travel for camps and competitions. I think through it all we have become a team and become more resilient in our struggles and more confident in our abilities.”

Final rosters have been posted for all eight teams. Below are brief summaries of the top stars on each team, listed by pool.

Group A summaries

No. 1 Azerbaijan is led by 2009 World champion Yuliya Ratkevich, who has dropped down to 55 kg/121 lbs. Zumrud Kurbangajieva was a European silver medalist at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. last year. 

No. 4 Ukraine has reduced its roster to one athlete per weight class. The only past World medalist on the list is 2008 World bronze medalist  and past Junior World champion Yuliya Blahinya, who has dropped down to 51 kg/112.25 lbs. The rest of the team is young. Past Junior World silver medalists include Nataliya Pulkovska at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and and Iryna Husyak at 59 kg/130 lbs. 

No 6 United States is led by 2008 World bronze medalist Tatiana Padilla (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. The team features a two-time Junior World champion and Olympian in Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) at 72 kg. and the 2008 Junior World champion Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.  A past University World champions Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.5 lbs.

No. 7 Mongolia boasts three past World medalists, 2009 World silver medalist Burmaa Ochirbat at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., 2009 World bronze medalist Odonchimeg Badrakh at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and 2008 World bronze medalist Nasanburmaa Ochirbat at 63 kg/138.5 lbs.

Group B summaries

No. 2 Japan  features the most decorated athlete in two-time Olympic champion and five-time World champion Kaori Icho of Japan at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Icho’s last major competition was at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Japan has two other athletes with numerous gold medals in their award case. Kyoko Hamaguchi, a five-time World champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist, will compete at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Also on the roster is four-time World champion Ayako Shoda at 59 kg/130 lbs. Two other medalists are on Japan’s roster, 2009 World bronze medalist Yuri Kai at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and 2008 World silver medalist Mami Shinkai at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.

No. 3 Canada has two past medalists, 2009 World bronze medalist Justine Bouchard at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 2008 World bronze medalist Ohenewa Akuffo at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

No. 5 Russia does not have a past Senior World medalist, but has three past Junior World champions on the roster. Included is 2008 and 2009 Junior World champion Ekaterina Melnikova at 59 kg/130 lbs., 2007 Junior World champion Nataliya Laushkina at 63 kg/138.5 lbs. and 2009 Junior World champion Nataliya Vorobieva at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

No. 8 China is led by 2003 World bronze medalist Hui Li at 51 kg/112.5 pounds and 2007 World bronze medalist Xiaomei Li at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

FILA will have a Women's World Cup results website at:
http://www.fila-wrestling.com/nanjing10/

UPDATED WOMEN’S WORLD CUP LINEUPS

Group A

No. 1 Azerbaijan
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Marziget Bagomedova 
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Angela Dorogan
55 kg/121 lbs. - Yuliya Ratkevich 
59 kg/130 lbs. - Katerina Dombrovska
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gozal Zutova 
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Zumrud Kurbangajieva 
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Dina Ivanova

No. 4 Ukraine
48 kg/105.5 lbs. â€" Nataliya Pulkovska
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Yuliya Blahinya 
55 kg/121 lbs. - Iryna Khariv
59 kg/130 lbs. - Iryna Husyak
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Maryana Kvyatkovska
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Alla Cherkasova
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Natasha Palamarchuk

No. 6 United States
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Alyssa Lampe
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jessica Medina
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tatiana Padilla
59 kg/130 lbs. - Deanna Rix
59 kg/130 lbs. â€" Kelsey Campbell
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Adeline Gray
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard

No. 7 Mongolia
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Erdenesukh Narangerel
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Davaasukh Otgontsetseg
55 kg/121 lbs. - Altantuya Namsrai
59 kg/130 lbs. - Tsevegmed Enkhbayar
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Nasanburmaa Ochirbat
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Tumentsetseg Sharkhuu
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Odonchimeg Badrakh
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Burmaa Ochirbat

Group B

No. 2 Japan
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Fuyuko Mimura
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Yuri Kai
55 kg/121 lbs. - Chikako Matsukawa
59 kg/130 lbs. - Ayako Shoda
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Kaori Icho
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Mami Shinkai
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Kyoko Hamaguchi

No. 3 Canada
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Lindsay Rushton
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jessica MacDonald Bondy
55 kg/121 lbs. - Jillian Gallays
55 kg/121 lbs. â€" Britanee Laverdure
59 kg/130 lbs. - Katharine Patroch
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Justine Bouchard
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Megan Buydens
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ohenewa Akuffo

No. 5 Russia
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Lubov Salnikova
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Marina Vilmova
55 kg/121 lbs. - Irina Kisel
59 kg/130 lbs. - Ekaterina Melnikova 
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Nataliya Laushkina
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Inna Trachukova
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Nataliya Vorobieva

No. 8 China
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Shasha Zhao
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Xiaomei Li
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Hui Li
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Shuang Li
55 kg/121 lbs. - Senlian Yang
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lan Zhang
59 kg/130 lbs. - Fengming Liu
59 kg/130 lbs. - Mei Jia
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Haili Cui
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Yuanyuan Jiao
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Xiaoqing Qin
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Xinyi Liu
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Dan Li
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Yan Hong

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
in Nanjing, China, March 27-28
(local time in China)

Saturday, March 27
9:30 a.m. â€" 11:30 a.m. â€" Pool competition, rounds 1 and 2
4:30 p.m. â€" 5:00 p.m. â€" Opening Ceremonies
5:00 p.m. â€" 9:00 p.m. â€" Pool competition, round 3

Sunday, March 28
10:30 a.m. â€" 12:00 noon â€" Fifth-place match
5:00 p.m. â€" 6:00 p.m. â€" Third-place match
6:00 p.m. â€" 7:30 p.m. â€" Championship match, and award c