Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler Mijain Lopez, champion of the 120kg division at the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008, said on Thursday that he will continue active in the sport for several more years.

Lopez said this shortly after conquering the first medal for his country in China, as quoted by official electronic daily "Granma".

Considered to be the best wrestler currently in the island, Lopez beat Russia's Khasan Baroev, defending champion and world titlist in 2006, to win the Greco-Roman 120kg gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games on Thursday.

Lopez had previously beaten Siarhei Artsiukhin in the first period of the 120kg finals and Armenian Yuri Patrikeev in quarterfinals and Swedish Jalmar Sjoberg in semifinals.

Very excited about his victory, twice world champion of Budapest 2005 and Baku-2007, he dedicated his medal to former Cuban leader Fidel Castro "whom I know, was expecting this medal" and to all the people in Cuba.

This was the only title Lopez was missing, since he got the fifth position in Athens 2004.

With the gold medal of Mijain Lopez, the first one for Cuba and of Latin America in Beijing 2008, Cuba advanced from the 25th position to the 13th and collects six medals: one gold, three silver and two bronze.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)