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