US Olympic Champion to Attend Cuban Wrestling Tournament

Havana, Feb 3. – U.S Olympic champion freestyle wrestler Henry Cejudo will participate in the Granma-Cerro Pelado International Wrestling Tournament next February 16-20 after almost two years without competing.

Cejudo (55kg), who has not competed since he defeated Japanese Tomohiro Matsunaga at Beijing Olympics, heads the U.S wrestling team that will take part in the Cuban tournament.

Cejudo, 23, returns to wrestling to retain his Olympic crown in London, 2012. However US media speculate that he will probably compete in a top division.

Greco-Roman wrestler Dremiel Byers (120kg) gold medalist in Moscow World Champion 2002 and Harry Lester (60kg), bronze medalist in Guangzhou-2006 and Baku-2007 are going to attend the tournament too.

16 freestyle wrestlers and 12 Greco-Roman wrestlers are the ones who represent the USA in this tournament.

On the other hand Cuban Mijain Lopez will not compete in the Greco-Roman Wrestling World Cup.

Lopez (120kg) gold medalist in Budapest 2005, Baku, 2007, Herning 2009 and Moscow 2010 will compete instead at Granma-Cerro Pelado International Wrestling Tournament here in Cuba due to a technical decision of the Cuban wrestling authorities.

Wrestlers Pablo Shorey (84 kg),Yunior Estrada (96 kg) Yagniel Hernandez (55kg), Hansel Meoque (60kg), Alexei Bell (66kg), Jorge Isbel Alvarez (74kg) and Yasmany Acosta (120 kg)will take part in the World Cup in order to compete with the elite, coach Carlos Ulacia explained.(Prensa Latina)