“I really don’t know why. I am so devastated,” said Saori Yoshida, Japan’s undisputed wrestling queen who has won a record 13 straight Olympic and world championship gold medals over 10 years.
The decision to drop wrestling, taken by the 15 members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board, has yet to be ratified by all members of the body, but leaves the sport fighting with seven other disciplines for the vacant spot in seven years’ time.
Japan Wrestling Federation chairman Tomiaki Fukuda expressed his frustration at the decision.
“I am really shocked. I have no idea why they decided this,” said Fukuda. “I am dissatisfied and baffled. I want to know the reasons why the IOC removed wrestling.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2013.
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