U.S. Athletes to Compete in First World Cups of the Season this Weekend

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Four U.S. players will compete in the first World Cups of the 2010 World Tour this weekend with the men traveling to Tbilisi, Georgia and the women fighting in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

All four players hail from the USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center in Glenville, N.Y. and will be making their first appearances on the Tour.

The 2008 Senior National Champion in the 48kg division, Natalie Lafon moved up to the 52kg division at the 2009 U.S. Open and is now ranked #2 in the division in the United States. 

Hannah Martin will be competing in the 57kg division where the 2006 Junior World Team member is the #2-ranked player in the United States. 

Martin and Lafon will both be fighting on Saturday at the Sofia World Cup when the women's 48kg, 52kg and 57kg will be held.  The 63kg, 70kg, 78kg and +78kg divisions will be contested on Sunday. 

Nick Kossor, a 2008 Senior National Champion, and Brad Bolen will compete on Saturday at the Tbilisi World Cup in the 60kg and 66kg divisions, respectively.  The 73kg division also will be contested on Saturday with the 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and +100kg divisions being held on Sunday.

Tags: Brad Bolen, Hannah Martin, Natalie Lafon, Nick Kossor