New Delhi: The IOC recognized Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today expressed hope that wrestling will be retained as one of the discipline for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Wrestling is part of Indian sporting folklore. It is a very popular sport in the over one- billion strong country.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will take up the issue with its International body FILA to build up support in the IOC in favoure of continuing the sport in the Olympic programme.
The IOC recognized IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra in a statement offered full support to the WFI and FILA in their campaign to keep the sport going in the Olympic Games.
Prof Malhotra said wrestling is a part of Indian cultural and sporting psyche. It is ancient game which finds mention in “our historical texts”.
He said Wrestling is not confined to one region but is played all over the globe and enjoys huge popularity and”for Indians it evokes sentiments and emotions”.
Prof Malhotra said the recent good showing by the Indian and other Asian wrestlers in the Olympics has given boost to this sport in the region and thousands of youngsters have taken to it and removing it from the Olympic programme will do immense harm to the sports and will de-motivate and demoralize these youngsters.
“I hope that IOC will reconsider its decision and keep Wrestling as a part of the Olympic programme” he added.