The Wrestling Association of Malawi has welcomed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reinstating of wrestling as a 2020 Olympic Games’ discipline. The sport was suspended seven months ago.
The local association’s vice-chairperson Mary Kalilani said they were now working confidently in the safe knowledge that the sport has regained its global appeal.
“Being an official serving a sport that is not competed for at the Olympics can, at times, be discouraging. With this development, our athletes are now training with power and vigour knowing that they stand a chance to compete at the Olympic Games,” Kalilani reacted yesterday.
Her remarks follows a vote by IOC member at an annual general meeting in Argentina on Sunday giving wrestling he nod, overturning a decision that members thought was a mistake.
This was evidenced by the fact that wrestling received 49 votes in the first round of secret balloting for IOC, compared to 24 and 22 for baseball-softball and squash respectively.
