Saori Yoshida proved to be an indestructible force Saturday but countrywoman Chiharu Icho saw her dream of realizing Olympic gold with her younger sister Kaori dashed after having to settle for silver in women's freestyle wrestling at the Beijing Games.
Yoshida successfully defended her title in the women's freestyle 55-kg class over China's Xu Li while Icho had to be content with the same result from the Athens Olympics four years ago in a defeat to Canadian Carol Huynh in the 48-kg division.
Five-time world champion Yoshida controlled her match from the start and never relented, winning in a victory by fall against Xu at China Agricultural University Gymnasium.