Reigning national champion Chiharu Icho defeated former world champion Shoko Yoshimura in the 48-kg weight category in the preliminary round of the Olympic qualifying Japan Queens Cup tournament Monday.
Icho was awarded the victory 4 minutes, 26 seconds into the match to reach the semifinals, while her younger sister, Kaori Icho, and Kyoko Hamaguchi also advanced to the final four in the 63-kg and 72-kg weight classes, respectively, at Tokyo's Komazawa Stadium.
Miyu Yamamoto, the former world champion in the 48-kg category, will face defending champion Makiko Sakamoto in another semifinal match Tuesday, while Seiko Yamamoto and national champion Saori Yoshida both reached the third round in the 55-kg weight division. National champions who win the two-day meet will automatically book spots on the Japanese team for this summer's Athens Olympics.