The star at this weight division is Seiko Yamamoto of Japan, who has won the World Championships at 56 kg for two straight years (2000-01) and was the 51 kg World Champion in 1999. Yamamoto was also the 2001 World Cup champion and 2002 World University champion at this weight class.    However, Japan is reportedly sending  Saori Yoshida, who beat Yamamoto out for the spot. Yoshida has already proven her talent this year, winning the gold medal at the Asian Games this fall and a gold medal at 59 kg at the World University Championships. Based upon these achievements, Yoshida becomes an immediate favorite to keep Japan's dominance alive at this division.    The top challenger to Yamamoto in recent years has been Tatiana Lazarova of Ukraine. Lazarova was second at the 2000 World Championships, third at the 2001 World Championships and has won the European Championship for two straight years.    Russian Liubov Volosova was second at the 2001 World Championships behind Yamamoto. Volosova was a 2001 Junior World silver medalist. Russia has many options at this division, including Natalia Smirnova, who was fourth at the 2002 European Championships.    Canada's Jen Ryz, a veteran athlete who was third at the 2000 World Championships, is another challenger aiming for a spot in the gold-medal match. Ryz was third in the 2001 World Cup.    The U.S. hopes are with Tina George, who has competed at three World Championships. Her best finish was sixth in the 1999 Worlds. George has tremendous athletic skills and experience, and showed her heart with a stunning three-match win over Stephanie Murata at the U.S. World Team Trials. Many are expecting that this may be the year that George breaks through with a medal at the World level.    This weight class may see some changes, as FILA has expanded the number of weight classes from six to seven this year. Some of the competitors at last year's 56 kg may move into the new 59 kg division. It could be a year that some new athletes make a name for themselves at 55 kg.    One of the top stars from Korea is Lee Na Lae, who was fourth at the 2001 World Championships and claimed a silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games.     Sweden should be well represented at this division. Sara Eriksson, a two-time World Champion, was fourth at last year's World meet at 56 kg. This year, Eriksson moved up to 59 kg and won the European title. At 55 kg , Sweden's Ida-Theres Karlsson was the 2002 European silver medalist. Either athlete will be in the medal hunt this year.    Two of the world's top veteran stars compete at this weight class, Anna Gomis of France and Gudrun Hoie of Norway, both who are four-time World Champions.     Gomis was been recognized by FILA as the 1999 Women's Wrestler of the Year, and if she is in top form, she will have an impact. Gomis was ninth in last year's World Championships, and placed a disappointing seventh in the 2002 European Championships. However, she has the experience and skill to make a run any time.    Hoie won her fourth career World gold medal in 1998. Hoie was eighth at last year's World Championships. She has proven her ability to remain competitive by placing third at this year's European Championships.    China's Sun Dongmei was seventh in the 2001 World Championships, but has been in the medals in recent competitions. She was second behind Yamamoto in both the 2001 World Cup and the 2002 World University Championships. Another athlete from Asia to watch is Naidan Otgonjargal of Mongolia, who placed third at the 2002 Asian Games.    Mabel Fonseca of Puerto Rico was fifth in the 2000 World Championships, but moved up to 59 kg this year to claim a Pan American Championships title. Other athletes from Pan American nations to watch include   Marcia Andrade or Yoselin Rojas of Venezuela,  Janet Sovero Nino of Peru and Saira Martinez of El Salvador.     Salma Ferchichi of Tunisia was fourth at the 2000 World Championships and won the gold medal at the 2002 African Championships. Kostantina Tsibanakou of Greece was a 2001 Junior World silver medalist. Others to watch include Minerva Montero of Spain, Eva Sacchi of Italy, Sabrina Lotz of Germany and Sunita of India.     Will Japan be able to hold onto this weight class without veteran star Yamamoto in the lineup, or will there be a new World Champion? Can veterans like Anna Gomis of France make another run for the gold, or will there be some new young stars making a move to the top? This should be a fun weight class to watch this year, especially since it is a weight class that will be contested at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.    2001 World Championships results  56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Gold - Seiko Yamamoto (Japan) dec. Liubov Volosova (Russia), 4-1; Bronze - Tetiana Lazarova (Ukraine) dec. Lee Na Lae (Korea), 5-2; 5th - Sara Eriksson (Sweden); 6th -  Yildirim Zeynep (Turkey); 7th - Sun Dongmei (China); 8th -  Gudrun Hoie (Norway); 9th - Anna Gomis (France); 10th - Yoselin Rojas (Venezuela)    2000 World Championships results  56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Gold - Seiko Yamamoto (Japan); Silver - Tatiana Lazareva (Ukraine); Bronze - Jennifer Ryz (Canada); 4th - Salma Ferchichi (Tunisia); 5th - Mabel Fonseca (Puerto Rico); 6th - Sara Eriksson (Sweden); 7th - Yulianny Orellana (Venezuela); 8th - Minerva Montero (Spain); 9th - Kostantina Katerina Tsibanakou (Greece); 10th -  Natalja Ivachko (Russia)    1999 World Championships results  56 kg/123.25 lbs. - 1st - Anna Gomis (France) pin Mariko Shimuzu (Japan), 1:25; 3rd - Gudrun Hoie (Norway) dec. Tatjana Lazareva (Ukraine), 4-1; 5th - Nelisa Romero (Venezuela); 6th - Tina George (USA); 7th (tie) - Haying Cao (China) and Natalia Ivatjsko (Russia); 9th - Sara Eriksson (Sweden); 10th - Biruta Lickia (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.