New Delhi

The union sports ministry hopes International Olympic Committee (IOC) retains wrestling for the 2020 Summer Games at its 125th Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In a letter written to all the IOC members, Sports Secretary P.K. Deb has said that wrestling goes back to the inaugural modern Olympics held in Athens in 1896. "It was a part of the ancient Olympics too. The exclusion of the discipline from the core sports of Olympics is against the Games' tradition." 

Wrestling is fighting with squash and baseball/softball for the one spot in 2020 Olympics. The IOC will announce its decision in Buenos Aires Sunday. 

The letter said, "Wrestling has immense popularity and fan following world-wide. Its popularity can be gauged from the fact that 71 countries participated in wrestling events in the London Olympics." 

The IOC Executive Board (EB) in February recommended that wrestling will not be included in the list of 25 sports for 2020.

India won six medals in the London Games, of which two came from wrestling.

By:IANS

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