Narendra Modi lashes out at IOC for striking wrestling off Olympic 2020

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the International Olympic Council (IOC)’s decision to keep wrestling out of Olympics from 2020 edition. He wants India to take up the issue at the highest level and protest against the decision.

Modi, was speaking at the JD Nagarwala Police Stadium in the city during the closing ceremony of Khel Mahakumbh on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, IOC had decided to eliminate wrestling, one of the most elemental Olympic sports from the Summer Games.

Terming it as disappointing news for sports fraternity, Modi said, “The sport has been associated with the global event for last 125 years. Just because you want to modernise Olympics, you can’t remove wrestling,” he said.

Along with track and field, wrestling has been considered as the oldest competitive sport, one that made its first appearance at the ancient Olympic Games in 708 BC.

The final decision will be taken during the IOC executive board meets in September Congress to choose a 2020 host.

Going a step further, Modi said he will request prime minister Manmohan Singh to take initiative before time runs out. “Asian countries, including India have done well in wrestling. That is why we should bring all of them together and protest against these policymakers who have insulted the sport. We should not wait till September,” he added.

The evening also saw winners of various disciplines at the Khel Mahakumbh walking away with the mementos.

Modi also praised the special Mehsana girl Maya Devipujak. Maya was part of the Floor Hockey team that won gold at the World Winter Games (Special Olympics) held in Pyeong Chang, in South Korea recently. “She belongs to economically backward community, and is the first person from her community to scale such heights. I congratulate her parents. She has made Gujarat pround,” he said.

World billiards champion Rupesh Shah was also felicitated at the event. Prizes were also distributed among the differently-able (mentally and physically) athletes who competed in the Gujarat’s sports carnival. More than 90,000 such athletes showcased their abilities.