Four-time Olympic champion Kaori Icho took a step toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, winning her rematch against fellow Rio Olympic champion Risako Kawai at the national wrestling championships.
Icho, who declared for the first time on Saturday that she would attempt to compete at the next Olympics, was beaten by Kawai in their women's 57-kilogram group-stage bout. Kawai had won the 63-kg title in Rio, where Icho won the 58-kg division.
Trailing 2-1 in the final period, the 34-year-old Icho found a bit of her old speed to turn the tables on her 24-year-old opponent to earn a 3-2 victory.