UWW

Kawai is an Olympic champion at 63kg at Rio 2016....Secured spot at Tokyo Olympics by winning third straight world title in 2019 World Championships, holding off rival Ningning RONG (CHN) 9-6 in final...Had to defeat four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO in playoff to make team to Nur-Sultan. Won 3 of 4 meetings between the two over six months in the qualifying process, which handed Icho her first domestic loss since 2001...4-time Asian champion...Father Takahito was national collegiate Greco champion, mother Hatsue (maiden name KOTAKI) was two-time national women's champion and coached Risako at Kanazawa Junior Wrestling Club...Faced sister Yukako in 60kg final at 2015 All-Japan, won by technical fall...To allow both to go to Olympics, Risako moved to lower weight because her body type made it easier to cut weight.