Japan has dominated this weight class for many years. Hitomi Sakamoto claimed the 2000 and 2001 World gold medals with dominant performances, and Japan won the individual gold medal with other athletes the previous two seasons. Sakamoto was also a World Cup gold medalist last year, the first year of the event for women athletes.    According to Japanese journalists, Sakamoto will not be competing this year, due to knee surgery. Her replacement is expected to be Chiharu Icho, the 2002 University World champion and 2001 Junior World Champion. This means that the Japanese win streak may be at risk.    Taking second to Sakamoto in 2001 was American Stephanie Murata, who returns to this division after competing most of the year at 55 kg. Murata lost in the U.S. Trials finals to veteran Tina George at 55 kg, then dropped down to win a Special Wrestle-off against Jenny Wong to make the World team. Murata was a Pan American Champion this year, competing up at 55 kg, and is one of the most experienced athletes in the world at this division. The USA has won a silver medal for two straight years at this division, with Patricia Miranda taking second in 2000.     Gao Yanzhi of China was the 2001 World bronze medalist and also captured a World bronze medal in 1999. She won silver medals at the 2001 World Cup and the 2002 World University Championships.    Ida Hellstrom of Sweden was the 2001 World bronze medalist and also placed second in the 1998 World meet and third in the 1996 Worlds. Hellstrom placedsecond at the European Championships this year.     Canada's Lyndsay Belisle was fourth in the 2001 World meet and has shown some tremendous improvement, winning numerous tournaments during the 2002 season. Belisle was third at the 2002 World University Championships.    Russia's Natalia Karamtchakova placed fifth in the 1999 and 2001 World Championships. However, she may not be the Russian entry, as Olga Smirnova of Russia was the 2002 European Champion. The European bronze was captured by Inessa Rebar of Ukraine, who was fourth in the 2000 World Championships and 10th at last year's World meet.    The 2001 European champion was Sofia Poubouridou of Greece, who placed ninth in the 2001 World Championships. Alena Kareish of Belarus was the 2001 European bronze medalist, and went on to place eighth in the 2001 World Championships.    Marta Wojtanowska of Poland placed fourth in the 2001 and 2002 European Championships. Veteran Djulia Okot of Bulgaria is a talent who could challenge for medals. Another top athlete is Magdelena Arellano of Mexico, who placed sixth at the 2000 World Championships and second in the 2002 Pan American Championships.      Other athletes who could be a force are 2001 Junior World Champion Vanessa Boobryem of France and 2002 African champion Nour El Houda Bejaoui of Tunisia. Others with potential include Laurianne Mary of France, Jessica Bechtel or Alexandra Demmel of Germany,  Elena Tolstenko of Russia and Nadir Percin of Turkey.     As a non-Olympic weight class, we may see some defection of athletes either up or down, but that decision may be delayed a year until next year's World Championships. The big question here is whether we will see a break in Japan's hammerlock on this weight division, and if the United States can crack through with a champion.     2001 World Championships results  51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Gold  - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan) won by tech. fall over Stephanie Murata (USA), 12-1, 4:59; Bronze  - Gao Yanzhi (China) pin Lindsay Belisle (Canada); 5th - Natalia Karamthakova (Russia); 6th - Vanena Boobryem (France); 7th - Djulia Okot (Bulgaria); 8th - Alena Kareisha (Belarus); 9th - Sofia Poubouridou (Greece); 10th - Inesa Rebar (Ukraine)    2000 World Championships results  51 kg/112.25 lbs - Gold - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan); Silver - Patricia Miranda (USA); Bronze - Ida Hellstrom (Sweden); 4th - Inna Rebar (Ukraine); 5th - Elena Egochina (Russia); 6th - Magdalena Arellano Morelos (Mexico); 7th -  Yvonne Hees (Germany); 8th - Faira Bjaoui (Tunisia); 9th - Li-Chuan Wu (Taipei); 10th - Marta Wojtanowska (Poland)    1999 World Championships results  51 kg/112.25 lbs -  1st - Seiko Yamamoto (Japan) dec. Erica Sharpe (Canada), 6-4; 3rd - Yanchi Gao (China) won by ref. dec. over Stephanie Murata (United States), 2-1, ot, 9:00; 5th - Natalia Karamtjakova (Russia); 6th - Ida Hellstrom (Sweden); 7th - Anne Catherine Deluntsch (France); 8th - Annett Kamke (Germany); 9th - Yulianni Orellana (Venezuela); 10th - Margarita Starikova (Latvia)    Each day this week, TheMat.com will preview a weight class at the 2002 Women's World  Championships, set for Halkida, Greece, Nov. 2-3. Please visit TheMat.com each day for a new preview of the championships. To discuss the World Championships with other fans, please visit the International Board or the Women's Wrestling Board on TheMat.com Message Boards.