The pool pairings have been set for the 2012 Women’s World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, May 26-27. The top eight nations from the 2011 World Championships are entered in the World Cup, which is the annual international dual meet championships.

The United States will face China, Japan and Ukraine in Pool A competition. The nations in Pool B are Canada, Mongolia, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Based upon 2011 World Championships placement, the United States was fourth in the World. The World placement of their pool opponents are Japan (1st), China (7th), Ukraine (8th)

The United States placed second in the Women’s World Cup in 2009 and 2010, falling to China in the championship finals both years.

Three athletes who have qualified to compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games will be on the U.S. roster: two-time Olympian Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., plus Olympians Kelsey Campbell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

“We are here as a program and we are coming here to win. The last two years, we have been No. 2 behind China at the World Cup. I’d like to think we have made improvements and would like to show that at this competition,” he said.

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
At Tokyo, Japan, May 26-27

Pool A pairings

Round 1
USA vs. China, Japan vs. Ukraine

Round 2
USA vs. Japan, Ukraine vs. China

Round 3
USA vs. Ukraine, Japan vs. China

Pool B pairings

Round 1 
Azerbaijan vs. Russia, Canada vs. Mongolia

Round 2
Mongolia vs. Russia, Canada vs. Azerbaijan

Round 3
Mongolia vs. Azerbaijan, Canada vs. Russia

U.S. World Cup roster
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Orangeville, Calif. (OCU/Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
National Women's Coach Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo. 
Assistant National Women's Coach Izzy Izboinikov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
World Cup coach – Keith Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo.