Wrestling champion to carry Japan flag

Multiple world wrestling champion Saori Yoshida has been handed the honour of carrying the Japanese flag at the London 2012 opening ceremony as she targets her third straight Olympic gold medal. Yoshida, a nine-time world champion who is seeking an Olympic hat-trick in the 55kg division, said she was nervous but happy at the prospect of leading out Japan's team on July 27. "I feel nervous, but I am happy that I will be able to lead the Japanese delegation," said Yoshida, 29. "I want to walk proudly with my head held high," she added, according to Kyodo news agency. "I'm happy I'll be in the spotlight." The Japanese Olympic Committee also named Yukifumi Murakami, who won the men's javelin bronze at the 2009 world athletics championships, as captain of the team. Murakami, 32, also captained Japan at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, while Yoshida carried the flag at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha -- with both winning gold on each occasion.