Hosts United States top Pool A after claiming two wins out of two on the opening day of the UWW Men's Freestyle World Cup in Iowa City ©UWW

Hosts United States top Pool A after claiming two wins out of two on the opening day of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Men's Freestyle World Cup in Iowa City. 

The Americans opened the two-day competition with an emphatic 10-0 victory over India in the morning session at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

They outscored their opponents 54-3 in the dual meet and registered seven technical falls.

In the afternoon session, the US came from behind to claim a 7-3 win over a Japan team fresh off beating Georgia by the same scoreline.

The contest opened with a repeat of last year's 57 kilograms gold medal match between Yuki Takahashi and Thomas Gilman.

Gilman scored first off a passivity in the opening period but Takahashi registered two takedowns in the final 90 seconds to take a 4-1 victory.

Japan then carried the momentum created by Takahashi to secure wins at 61kg and 65kg, through Kazuya Koyanagi and Takuto Otoguro respectively.

Otoguro's success was particularly notable as it came over 2016 world champion Logan Stieber, winning 10-5.

James Green, a two-time world medallist, begun the turnaround after holding on to defeat Kirin Kinoshita 8-5 at 70kg.

The US dominated thereafter with victories for Jordan Burroughs at 74kg, Kyle Dake at 79kg, David Taylor at 86kg, J'den Cox at 92kg, Kyle Snyder at 97kg and Nick Gwiazdowski at 125 kg.

Burroughs, a four-time world champion and the London 2012 Olympic gold medallist, improved his Freestyle World Cup record to 25-0 with his two victories today.

The US are looking to capture their 14th Freestyle World Cup title, but first since 2003.

America's Jordan Burroughs preserved his unbeaten record in the Freestyle World Cup ©UWW
America's Jordan Burroughs preserved his unbeaten record in the Freestyle World Cup ©UWW

"I've wrestled in a lot of World Cups, but I've never been a part of a team that's won it," Burroughs said.

"I really want to win this thing.

"Our team is competing at a high level.

"It’s our time.

"I don’t think there is anybody in the world that can compete with what we’ve got going on right now."

Today's one other match in Pool A saw Georgia beat India 8-2.

In Pool B, Azerbaijan registered two wins from as many outings.

In arguably the most anticipated dual meet of the morning session, Azerbaijan dominated Cuba to triumph 8-2.

They followed this up with a 9-1 win over Kazakhstan.

Pool B’s other matches saw Mongolia experience mixed fortunes.

They beat Kazakhstan 6-4 before losing 7-3 to Cuba.

The conclusion of the pool stage tomorrow is due be followed by the medal matches.