Japan has been the dominant nation in women's wrestling since the Women's World Championships was created in the late 1980's.  Japan has won nine of the 14 Women's World Championships held, including six in a row between 1989-94. Women's wrestling is important in Japan, and their stars receive considerable public attention. The nation has developed a strong training system for the athletes, and talented young stars move in to replace veteran heroes on a regular basis.    Japan brings a mixed team to this year's World Championships, with some of its top stars of recent years out, and some exciting new young talents. At 51 kg, Hitomi Sakamoto claimed the 2000 and 2001 World gold medals but will be replaced by Chiharu Icho, the 2002 University World champion. At 55 kg, three-time World champion Seiko Yamamoto was beaten out by Saori Yoshida, the 2002 Asian Games champion. These newcomers will have to be successful for Japan to reclaim the team title. Veteran Rika Iwama at 63 kg will be counted on to score team points, as will three-time World Champion Kyoko Hamaguchi at 72 kg. Hamaguchi was the 2002 Asian champion, but was beaten during last week's World Cup event, an indication that she will have a tough time returning to her former glory.    The reigning World Champion team is China, which won its first team title in 2001. China has traditionally had a team with strong individual talent, but had not put together a total team effort until last year, and was able to edge Japan by three points in the standings. China's strength was shown a month prior to the World meet, when they placed a strong second to Japan in the first Women's World Cup. With women's wrestling now an Olympic sport, China is placing additional effort in the women's program.    China will be without its 2001 World Champion, Lili Meng, who has been replaced on the preliminary roster by 2002 Asian Games champion Xu Haivan. At 48 kg, China seems to selected Li Hui over five-time World Champion Xiue Zhong, who also was a 2002 Asian Games champion. This may be a preview of the Chinese team for the 2004 Olympics, a passing of the torch to younger athletes.    Two other nations that have won World Team titles, Russia and the United States, had off-years in 2001, dropping to sixth and seventh respectively. Russia is the only nation besides Japan to win the World Team title more than once, with victories in 1995 and 1998. Russia did not compete in the early years of women's wrestling, but has developed a very strong team. Russia won the medal standings at the 2002 European Championships.    Russia, just like with its men's programs, submitted two names to the World Championships organizing committee, just to keep the opponents on their toes. Inga Karamchakova at 48 kg is one of the veterans on the Russian squad and will need to provide leadership to the team. It seems that Russia has developed a very talented heavyweight, 2002 European Champion Svetlana Martinenko. You never know what to expect from the Russians, except for some strong athletes with a potential to medal.    Team USA claimed its World Team title in 1999, with an razor-thin one-point victory over Japan. The U.S. women's team has won a medal at every World Championships it has entered. Two of the six U.S. 2001 World Team members did not compete at the World meet last year due to military commitments, but the team still put two athletes in the gold-medal finals.    With the hiring of full-time National Coach Terry Steiner and the creation of a resident program, USA Wrestling expects to climb back among the top nations in 2002. The team is one of its most experienced, with a past World Champion (Kristie Marano) and three past World silver medalists (Toccara Montgomery, Patricia Miranda, Stephanie Murata) in the lineup. Every competitor has World Championship experience and could be considered a medal hopeful. On paper, this could be the strongest U.S. lineup to date, but World Team titles are not won on paper.    Ukraine has also developed a strong program, placing fourth in the 2000 World Championships then third at the 2001 World Championships,  with a champion and two medalists both years. The top Ukrainian star is Irina Melnik, the lightest weight gold medalist the last two years.    Two other emerging powers are Canada and Germany. Canada had its best performance in 2000, placing third, with three medalists, then followed up with a fifth-place finish in 2001. Canada's biggest star, Christine Nordhagen-Vierling, is not competing this year. Without her team points in the bank, Canada will need a consistent effort up and down the lineup. Carol Huyhn at 48 kg, a two-time World medalist, may be Canada's best shot at a gold medal.    Germany had its best performance in 2001 by placing fourth, with two medalists. Brigitte Wagner at 48 kg and Anita Schatzle at 72 kg are the most productive performers for Germany. According to preliminary entries, Schatzle has moved up to the highest weight, an Olympic weight, and her ability to win against the bigger athletes is still a question mark.    Other nations with competitive programs include Poland, France, Belarus, Korea, Norway, Bulgaria and Sweden. These nations will make a move in the standings based upon the performance of a few individuals. Poland has a reigning World Champion at the highest weight class in Edyta Witkowska.    France has a long tradition in women's wrestling and was among the top teams in the early 1990's, and still has strong individuals. Norway and Sweden also have a tradition in women's wrestling, although neither nation is bringing a full compliment of athletes. Teams such as Korea and Bulgaria, which have strong men's programs, have the potential to improve. Turkey, also strong in men's wrestling, is getting its women's team geared up. Of the South American nations, Venezuela has traditionally had the best program, with some athletes capable of medal contention. Among African nations, Egypt is the most successful at this time.    Now that women's wrestling is an Olympic sport, the World Championships should feature increasing numbers of teams and progressively more talented athletes. According to the World Championships web page, set up by the Greek wrestling federation, 43 nations have indicated they will compete this year, a big step up over other years.     It is interesting that African nations like Cameroon, Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are sending teams, with many of their rosters rather large. Some of the former Russian republics that have not done much with their women's teams, like Uzbekistan and Turkmentistan, are now putting women on the mats.  Mongolia, always a men's freestyle power, will bring six wrestlers to Greece. The powers of international women's wrestling have traditionally been from Asia, Europe and North America, but things may change now that there are Olympic medals up for grabs. The bar has been raised, and winning World medals in women's wrestling will get more and more difficult each and every year.    2001 World Championships results   1. China, 36 pts.; 2. Japan, 33; 3. Ukraine, 33; 4. Germany, 31; 5. Canada, 30; 6. Russia, 25; 7. United States, 24; 8. Poland, 17; 9. France, 14; 10. Belarus, 13; 11. Korea, 12; 12. Norway, 11; 13. Bulgaria, 11; 14. Italy, 9; 15. Sweden, 8; 16. Greece, 7; 16. (tie) Turkey, 7; 18. Venezuela, 4; 19. Spain, 3; 20. (tie) Kyrgyzstan, 1; 20 (tie) Czech Republic, 1    2000 World Championships results   1. Japan, 48 pts.; 2. Russia, 34 pts.; 3. Canada, 31 pts.; 4. Ukraine, 27 pts.; 5. United States, 25 pts.; 6. Germany, 20 pts.; 7. Poland, 19 pts.; 8. Sweden, 18 pts.; 9. France, 13 pts.; 10. Bulgaria, 13 pts.    1999 World Championships   1. United States, 47 pts.; 2. Japan, 46 pts.; 3. China, 29.5 pts.; 4. Russia, 29 pts.; 5. Canada, 24 pts.; 6. Venezuela, 22 pts.; 7. Ukraine, 20.5 pts.; 8 (tie) Sweden and Norway, 20 pts.; 10. France, 17 pts.; 11. Austria, 15 pts.; 12. Germany, 12 pts.; 13. Poland, 11 pts.; 14. (tie) Kyrgzstan, 5 pts.; 15. (tie) Bulgaria and Finland, 4 pts.; 17. Latvia, 2 pts.; 18 (tie) Australia and Italy, 1 pt.