BONO, THOMPSON WIN SILVER MEDALS AT THE CUP OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF UZBEKISTAN, MAY 22-24 
  
 U.S. freestyle wrestlers Chris Bono (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) and Tolly Thompson (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) won silver medals at the 1998 Cup of the Independence of Uzbekistan, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 22-24. 
  
 Bono placed second at 152 pounds, losing to Taimuraz Urusov of Russia in the championship finals, 4-0. 
  
 Bono won three straight matches to qualify for the gold-medal match. A key win came in the semifinals, when he defeated Soslan Tomaev of Russia, 4-2. 
  
 Bono is a three-time University Nationals freestyle champion. He has won a number in freestyle tournaments this season, including the Sunkist Kids International Open in Phoenix, Ariz., and the Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba. 
  
 Thompson was defeated in the gold-medal finals at 213.75 pounds by Georgy Kaisinov of Uzbekistan, 6-3. 
  
 Thompson won two bouts to qualify for the finals. He pinned Sufi Feruz of Iran in the first round, then stopped Artem Ashijev of Russia, 7-0. 
  
 Thompson was the 1998 U.S. Nationals champion. He was also the 1998 Pan American Championships gold medalist, and was second in the 1997 Freestyle World Team Trials. 
  
 The competition featured wrestlers from around the world. Prize money was given to medalists at each weight class. 
  
 A third U.S. wrestler participated in the tournament, but did not medal. Melvin Douglas (Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) had a 1-1 record at 213.75 pounds. 
  
 Douglas was a 1993 World Champion, and has won four World Championship medals in his career. 
  
 The team leader for the U.S. delegation was Paul Kieblesz of New York, N.Y. 
  
 CUP OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF UZBEKISTAN 
  
 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 22-24 
  
 Medalists 
  
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Gold - Adham Achilov (Uzbekistan); Silver - Husein Muchtabo (Iran); Bronze - Mais Ibadov (Uzbekistan) 
  
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Gold - Gandjabi Mukhamadali (Iran); Silver - Huseini Mushalo (Iran); Bronze - Ramil Islamov (Uzbekistan) 
  
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold - Magomed Azizov (Russia); Silver - Zhamso Lhamajapov (Russia); Bronze - Teimur Muradi (Iran) 
  
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Gold - Taimuraz Urusov (Russia); Silver - Chris Bono (USA); Bronze - Emzar Bedebeishvili (Georgia) 
  
 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Gold - Guennady Laliev (Georgia); Silver - Guram Mohelidze (Ukraine); Bronze - Revaz Mindorashvili (Georgia) 
  
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Gold - Sagid Katinovossov (Uzbekistan); Silver - Aslan Sanakoev (Russia); Bronze - Georgy Gogleshidze (Russia) 
  
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Gold - Eldar Kurtanidze (Georgia); Silver - Soslan Fraev (Uzbekistan); Bronze - Said Murtazaliev (Russia) 
  
 130 kg/286 lbs.  - Gold - Georgy Kaisinov (Uzbekistan); Silver - Tolly Thompson (USA); Bronze - Zekiraya Guchlu (Turkey) 
  
 U.S. results 
  
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Chris Bono, Ames, Iowa, 2nd - dec. Emzar Bedeinishvili (Georgia), 3-2; dec. Ochir Damdinpov (Russia), 3-1; dec. Soslan Tomaev (Russia), 4-2; lost dec. to Taimuraz Urusov (Russia), 4-0 
  
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., dnp - dec. Jalol Yusupov (Uzbekistan), 6-0; lost by ref. dec. to Soslan Fraev (Uzbekistan), 0-0, ot, 8:00 
  
 130 kg/286 lbs. - Tolly Thompson, Lincoln, Neb., 2nd - pin Sufi Feruz (Iran); dec. Artem Ashijev (Russia), 7-0; lost dec. to Georgy Kaisinov (Uzbekistan), 6-3