India's wrestling and squash fraternity is waiting with bated breath for the International Olympic Committee's highly-anticipated vote on September 8 to decide on the inclusion of one of the sports to the 2020 Olympic roster.
A sense of anxiety has gripped the country's top grapplers and racqueters ahead of IOC's crucial meeting during its ongoing 125th Session in Buenos Aires where the world body will choose among baseball/softball, wrestling and squash for the lone available spot for the 2020 Summer Games.
Olympic medallist wrestlers, Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, and squash players Dipika Pallikal, Joshna Chinappa and Saurav Ghosal are excited but at the same time nervous as the full IOC membership meets to take a call on their future.
"I am hopeful that wrestling would be re-inducted into the Olympic programme. Wrestling is a popular sport and deserves a place in Olympics," two-time Olympic medallist Sushil told PTI.
London Olympics bronze-medallist and Sushil's long-time friend Yogeshwar Dutt said wrestling has introduced new changes in the game to make it more spectator-friendly.
"Wrestling has made India a force to reckon with in the Olympic arena and we are making every possible effort to make IOC reconsider its decision. I am confident that we will again become part of the Olympic movement," said Yogeshwar.
Olympian Geeta Phogat said, "All young wrestlers would love to see their game back in Olympics."
Squash players, too, are optimistic about their inclusion in the Olympic fold and believe they would be third-time lucky after two failed attempts by the World Squash Federation (WSF) on previous occasions.
"We deserve to be in the Olympics. Our sport has evolved so much over the years and we truly are an Olympic sport. We are fighting with wrestling and baseball to get in and I feel we definitely are a step ahead of them as a sport to get into the Olympics. Give us a chance and you will see what everyone missed out for all these years in the Olympics," said Dipika.
