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Havana, Sep 6 (IANS)
Cuba Mijain Lopez victorious after winning Men’s GR 120kg Gold Medal Match vs Russia Khasan Baroev at China Agricultural University Gymnasium. Lopez won gold medal. (Photo by Robert Beck /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
Cuba’s Mijain Lopez, two-time Olympic champion in the Greco-Roman wrestling 120-kg category, will go to 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games to seek his third championship.
“If my injuries do not punish me and with a good competitive strategy plus my efforts, I will be ready for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games,” said Lopez in an interview with a local television Thursday, reports Xinhua.
Lopez, also four-time world champion, admitted that in London 2012 he thought about retirement, but after winning the gold medal and returning to Havana, he discussed with his family and coaches and decided “to continue fighting.”
His coach Pedro Val said he has begun the work with the Cuban wrestler.
“We have a certain training plan and we will accurately plan his competition strategy. If he does not get injured, I am sure he will have a leading position in Rio,” said Val.
In Cuba, only two Greco-Roman wrestlers, Lopez and Filiberto Azcuy, have won Olympic gold medals.
Cuban wrestling has 19 Olympic medals, including seven gold, five silver and seven bronze.
