Clarissa Chun of the USA scores exposure points against Anzhela Dorogan of Azerbaijan, on the way to a technical fall at 48 kg. Sachiko Hotaka photo 

TOKYO, Japan – The United States closed out the 2012 Women’s World Cup with a strong 5-2 win over Azerbaijan in the seventh-place match. 

The top eight nations from the 2011 World Championships were entered in the World Cup, which is the annual international dual meet championships. Team USA finished with a 1-3 record.
	
Team USA swept the first four matches of their dual meet against Azerbaijan, clinching the victory before losing their first bout.

The first win came from two-time Olympian and 2008 World champion Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who scored a dominant technical fall over Anzhela Dorogan, 8-0, 6-0. 

After Alyssa Lampe (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dispatched Nigar Ahmadova at 51 kg/112.25 lbs, the USA added another win at 55 kg/121 lbs. when Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) stopped Yarina Dubovska, 7-3, 5-0.

The team win was clinched at 59 kg/130 lbs., when Leigh Jaynes (USA) pinned Irina Netreba in the first period.

After two wins by Azerbaijan, the USA victory was closed out with a win at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., as 2011 World bronze medalist Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) pinned Nataliya Palamarchuk in the second period.

Japan won the championship match by a 5-2 margin over Russia. The big news from the dual came from one of the matches Japan lost. Saori Yoshida, a two-time Olympic champion and nine-time World champion, lost only the second match of her Senior-level international career, falling to Valeria Zholobova of Russia, 2-1, 0-2, 0-3 at 55 kg/121 lbs. Her previous loss was to American Marcie Van Dusen at the 2008 World Cup, held in China.

Taking third was China, which defeated Canada, 5-2. Placing fifth was Ukraine, a 5-2 winner over Mongolia. All four teams from Pool A won their medal match dual meets, the pool which the USA was drawn into.

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
At Tokyo, Japan

Final Team Standings
1. Japan
2. Russia
3. China
4. Canada
5. Ukraine
6. Mongolia
7. United States
8. Azerbaijan

SEVENTH PLACE MATCH
USA 5, AZERBAIJAN 2
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun (USA) tech. fall Anzhela Dorogan (Azerbaijan), 8-0, 6-0
51 kg/112.25 lbs. –Alyssa Lampe (USA) pin Nigar Ahmadova (Azerbaijan)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis (USA) dec. Yarina Dubovska (Azerbaijan), 7-3, 5-0
59 kg/130 lbs. –Leigh Jaynes (USA) pin Irina Netreba (Azerbaijan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Hanna Beliayeva (Azerbaijan) dec. Elena Pirozhkova (USA), 0-3, 4-0 fall
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Gozal Zutova (Azerbaijan) pin Jennifer Page (USA)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Adeline Gray (USA) pin Nataliya Palamarchuk (Azerbaijan), 7-0, 4-0 pin

OTHER MEDAL MATCH RESULTS

Championship Match – Japan 5, Russia 2

Third Place Match – China 5, Canada 2

Fifth Place Match – Ukraine 5, Mongolia 2