Note: TheMat.com has resumed its series of previews for the 2001 World Championships. Although it has not yet been determined when and where the event will be hosted, the tournament is expected to be held this year. Those athletes listed as entries for the event originally scheduled for New York City will be used in these previews.    51 kg Women's World Championships Preview    Japan has dominated this weight class, winning gold medals the last three years with different athletes. In 2000, the World Champion was Hitomi Sakamoto, who was named by FILA as the Women's Wrestler of the Year. Sakamoto has earned the right to defend her title, and should be a strong favorite.    The United States will be represented by veteran Stephanie Murata, who has placed as high as fourth in the World Championships. Last year, Murata was injured and could not compete in the World meet, and her replacement, Patricia Miranda, won the World silver medal. Murata beat Miranda to make the U.S. team once again, and will be aiming to claim the first medal of her career. She has the power and experience to take it all, but needs to put it all together at the right time.    Experienced Ida Hellstrom of Sweden placed third in the 1996 and 2000 Worlds and was second in the 1998 World meet. Another past World medalist is China's Gao Yanzhi, who captured the bronze in 1999.     Inna Rebar of Ukraine placed fourth in the 2000 World Championships, but placed a disappointing sixth at the 2001 European Championships.     The 2001 European champion was Sofia Poubouridou of Greece, who is scheduled to compete in the World Championships. Alena Kareish of Belarus was the 2001 European bronze medalist, and is seeking a medal at the World level.    Russia may be represented by Natalia Karamtchakova, who placed fifth in the 1999 World Championships, or by Natalia Smirnova. Canada, another World power, will enter Lyndsay Belisle at this year's World Championships.    Magdelena Arellano Morelos of Mexico placed sixth at the 2000 World Championships. She was third at the 2001 Pan American Championships, an event won by America's Stephanie Murata.    Poland's Marta Wojtanowska placed fourth in the 2001 European Championships and Germany's Alexandra Demmel placed fifth. Bulgaria's Kamelia Tzekova, who was third in the 2001 European Championships at 46 kg, has moved up to 51 kg for this year's World meet. France, a perennial World power, will be represented by Laurianne Mary.     This year's Asian Championships may not contribute anything to the World Championships race. Of the six athletes entered in the 2001 Asian tournament, not a single athlete was listed on their nation's roster to participate at the World meet. Japan, China and Mongolia are entering different athletes than competed at the Asian Championships, and the wrestlers from India, Kyrgyzstan and Chinese Taipei were not entered by their nation.    On paper, Japan's Sakamoto stands to be the favorite. She scored a 10-0 technical fall over American Patricia Miranda in last year's finals. Veterans Stephanie Murata of the United States, Ida Hellstrom of Sweden, Gao Yanzhi of China and Natalia Karamtchakova of Russia all are aiming for a shot at Sakamoto. The goal is to stop Japan's stanglehold on this weight class, and it will take a tremendous effort to pull it off.    WOMEN'S 51 kg/112.25 lbs. (20 athletes as of 9/14)  Australia - Kyla Bremner  Belarus - A. Kareish  Bulgaria - Kamelia Tzekova  Canada - Lyndsay Belisle  China - Gao Yanzhi  Colombia - Rita Mateus  France - Laurianne Mary  Germany - Melanie Bechtel, Jessica Bechtel or Alexandra Demmel  Greece - Sofia Poubouridou  Japan - Hitomi Sakamoto  Korea - Park Ji-Young  Macedonia - Adriana Marke  Mexico - Magdelena Arellano Morelos  Mongolia - Batbold Enkhtuya  Poland - Marta Wojtanowska  Russia - Natalia Karamtchakova or Natalia Smirnova  Sweden - Ida Hellstrom  Turkey - Dilek Arslan, Ugrun Percin or Sebiha Golunuk  Ukraine - Inessa Rebar  United States - Stephanie Murata