Cuba, Japan and Uzbekistan set lineups for Concord Cup

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
01/28/2003


Three foreign lineups have been set for the Concord Cup in Concord, Calif., Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Teams from Cuba, Japan and Uzbekistan have committed lineups for the event.    The Concord Cup pits three U.S. teams of the top Greco-Roman wrestlers in the nation against some of the top Greco-Roman wrestlers internationally.    2000 Olympic silver medalists Lazaro Rivas and Juan Maren will lead the Cuban squad. Rivas, competing at 55 kg/121 lbs. was a 1999 World Champion and captured a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships. Maren, wrestling at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., has also won nine Pan-American Championships titles.    Joining Rivas and Maren on the Cuban team will be international stars Roberto Monzon Gonzales at 60 kg/132 lbs., Filiberto Azcuy at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Ernesto Pena at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Gonzales is a two-time World bronze medalist (2001-02). Azcuy was an Olympic champion in 1996. Pena captured a silver medal at the 2001 World Championships and placed fifth at the 2002 World Championships.    Leading the Japan team will be 2000 Olympic silver medalist Katsuhiko Nagata at 74 kg/163 lbs. Nagata is also a two-time Asian Games champion. Joining Nagata will be Makoto Sasamoto at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Shingo Matsumoto at 84 kg/185 lbs. Sasamoto was a World University champion in 2000. Matsumoto won the 2002 Asian Games championship.    2001 World Champion Dilshod Aripov will lead the Uzbekistan team at 60 kg/132 lbs. Aripov has twice won silver medals at the Asian Games. Also competing for the Uzbekistan team will be Bokhodir Kurbanov at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Kurbanov placed fifth at the 2002 World Championships and the 2000 Olympic Games.    A team from Egypt may also compete in the Concord Cup. Details will be provided on TheMat.com.    Weigh-ins will take place on Friday, Jan. 31 along with a fundraising dinner and an exhibition for select wrestlers. The dual competition between the U.S. and foreign teams will begin on Saturday, Feb. 1 and commence on Sunday, Feb. 2.    For more information on the Concord Cup, contact tournament director Bill Martell at (925) 935-4262.    Cuba's Roster  55 kg/121 lbs. - Lazaro Rivas  60 kg/132 lbs. - Roberto Monzon Gonzales  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Juan Maren  74 kg/163 lbs. - Filiberto Azcuy  84 kg/185 lbs. - Louis Mendez  96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Ernesto Pena  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Migail Lopez    Japan's Roster  55 kg/121 lbs. - Masatoshio Toyota  60 kg/132 lbs. - Makoto Sasamoto  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Masaki Imuro  74 kg/163 lbs. - Katsuhiko Nagata  84 kg/185 lbs. - Shingo Matsumoto  96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Shuhei Taniguchi    Uzbekistan's Roster  55 kg/121 lbs. - Kamol Kholmatov  60 kg/132 lbs. - Asliddin Khudayberdiev  60 kg/132 lbs. - Dilshod Aripov  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Bokhodir Kurbanov  74 kg/163 lbs. - Mirzoali Mamadjanov  74 kg/163 lbs. - Djakhongir Turdiev  84 kg/185 lbs. - Evgeniy Erofailov  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Shermakhamad Kuziev