Cuba has submitted its roster of athletes who are expected to compete in the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling in New York City, 12-14 September.     The tournament will feature the world's best men and women freestyle wrestlers, competing in the world's most famous sports arena, Madison Square Garden. The World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling is also a qualifying event for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Women's wrestling will be contested in the Olympics for the first time ever in Athens.    Cuba is a traditional world power in freestyle wrestling, and a top rival of the United States at the Pan American level. Cuba placed third at the 2002 World Championships in Tehran, Iran.    Cuba will enter a full seven-athlete men's freestyle team in the competition. The preliminary roster from Cuba features three past World Champions: Rene Montero at 55 kg/121 lbs., Yoel Romero at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Alexis Rodriguez at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    Montero won his World gold medal in 2002. He was a Junior World Champion in 1999 and a Pan American Championships gold medallist in 2002.    Romero was a 1999 World Champion, and won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games. He was also a World silver medalist in 2002, and a World bronze medalist in 1998 and 2001. He also boasts two World Cup gold medals, and three Pan American Championships gold medals.    Rodriguez was a World Champion in 1998, and won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games. He won World silver medals in 1997 and 2002 and a World bronze medal in 2001. He was also a Junior World champion in 1996. He captured Pan American Championships in 1997 and 2001.    Three other Cuban roster athletes have Olympic Games experience. Carlos Ortiz, who is listed at 66 kg/145.5 lbs, was sixth in the 2000 Olympics. Yosmany Sanchez, who is one of three Cuban athletes listed at 74 kg/163 lbs., placed fourth in the 1996 Olympics and fifth in the 2000 Olympics. Veteran Wilfredo Morales, who competes at 96 kg/211.25 lbs., placed ninth in 1996 Olympics and 14th in 2000 Olympics.    Others in the Cuban tentative lineup are Luis Ibanez at 55 kg/121 lbs., Yandro Quintana and Yoendris Albear at 60 kg/132 lbs., Sergui Rondon at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Daniel Gonzalez and Ivan Fundora at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Wilber Silega at 96 kg/211.25 lbs.    Each team may have only one entry per weight class, so Cuba must still decide which athlete will be entered at a number of the weight classes.    Because of deadlines that have arrived, numerous team rosters are coming into USA Wrestling on a daily basis now. USA Wrestling will make special announcements on the rosters of the most powerful teams that are expected to challenge for team and individual titles. In addition, information on the other teams that send athlete information will be posted as a group.    A total of 53 nations have sent in their preliminary registration materials to USA Wrestling, indicating their plans to attend the competition. Other nations are expected to indicate their desire to participate in the upcoming weeks.    The nations who have confirmed participation at this time are: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Phillippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan.    Tickets are on sale now for the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling. Organizers are expecting a sellout for the Saturday and Sunday sessions. To get the good seats now, call 1-877-NYC2003.    CUBA  Men's freestyle team  55 kg/121 lbs. - Rene Montero or Luis Ibanez  60 kg/132 lbs. - Yandro Quintana or Yoendris Albear  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Carlos Ortiz or Sergui Rondon  74 kg/163 lbs. - Daniel Gonzalez, Yosmany Sanchez or Ivan Fundora  84 kg/185 lbs. - Yoel Romero  96 kg/211.25 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales or Wilber Silega  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez    Coaches - Filiberto Delgado, Juan Caballero, Barbaro Morgan  Referee - Guillermo Molina  Team Leaders - Miguel Langaney, Gustavo Rolle  Medical - Dr. Hilario Sanchez, Arbelio Recio