TOKYO (AFP) — Japan's Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi won the Tokyo international women's marathon Sunday after an injury-hit two-year break, issuing a warning to Paula Radcliffe ahead of the Beijing Games next year.

The 29-year-old Noguchi duelled with Kenyan Salina Kosgei until 36 kilometres (22.3 miles) but pulled ahead at the start of an uphill section to win the sun-soaked race in two hours 21 minutes and 37 seconds.

Kosgei, who won the 2004 Paris marathon and was the runner-up in the Berlin marathon last year, trailed home in 2:23.31. Italian Bruna Genovese finished third in 2:27.35.