Wrestling is one of India's major hopes for an Olympic medal in future years. But that has received a major jolt with the removal of the sport from the list of Olympic sports for 2020 Olympics. It is especially bad news for youngsters of the country, who have been eyeing the 2020 Olympics for a medal. All is lost, though, for these athletes as the final decision about it will be taken in September 2013, so there's a chance that the sport may find its way back for the 2020 Olympics.
“I was sad when I heard about it as my preparations for the 2020 Olympics are going on,” said Vikas Dagar, a wrestler, in this nnis video. He is not the only athlete who was preparing for the 2020 Olympics. There are a number of youngsters at various age levels, who want to win a medal for
India and are hence preparing with full gusto for it.
Rahul, a young wrestler said, “Olympics is Olympics. If wrestling is removed from the Olympics then there is nothing left in wrestling.” Wrestling has been one of the oldest event of the Olympics. It was also a part of the first
Olympic Games that took place in Greece. For many of the Indian wrestlers, Olympics is the biggest event that they represent, and stands a chance to bring home a medal. By doing so, they will also get a lot of fame and name in the country as well, like the way Sushil Kumar did by winning an Olympic medal in the 2012
London Olympics.
Sushil Kumar said, “It is strange that wrestling has been removed from the 2020 Olympics. This is a strange step taken by IOC. When youngsters do not have any target, how and why will the wrestlers work hard?” But there are some other youngsters that are still positive about their future. They have kept some alternatives as well. Kushal, another young wrestler, said, “We were training very hard for the 2020 Olympics to bring medals for India. But, we will bring medals from Asiad, Commonwealth Games, etc.”
After Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt won medals in the Olympics, the sport, which has a rich history in India, has seen an increase in the number of people interested in the sport. So, the inclusion of wrestling in the 2020 Olympic Games is going to be a great news for Indian wrestling, if it happens. For this, one has to wait till September, when the final decision would be taken.
