TWO of the Western Suburbs’ leading wrestling identities are confident the sport will not be culled from the 2020 Olympic Games.
Altona-based coach Sam Parker and London Olympic Games competitor and Seddon trained Farzad Tarash both said they were shocked at the International Olympic committee’s decision to cut the sport.
Wrestling is now in limbo over the next few months, competing against seven other sports for the one remaining spot in the 2020 games.
Its competition includes karate, baseball/softball, wakeboarding and squash.
“When I first found out it really came as a total shock,” Tarash said.
“There is still hope. It hasn’t completely gone out yet but it is definitely going to be nervous times coming up for all the wrestlers.
“At the moment, with all the protests that are happening all throughout the world, it is looking really good for us … so we are keeping our fingers crossed and hopefully the IOC changes its decision again.”
Wrestling was one of the few foundation sports remaining from the first Olympics in 1896.
More than 70 countries competed in the sport at last year’s London Games.
Parker, who has coached the majority of Australian champions during his time in the sport, said the timing of the decision was disappointing given wrestling was experiencing a boom in popularity thanks to mixed martial arts competitions.
“It is not good for the sport that’s for sure. It puts us on shaky ground and there is nothing good about that,” Parker said.
“Wrestling is starting to boom because, with this ultimate fighting going on, the basis for all of it is wrestling and a lot of people are taking up wrestling to get to ultimate fighting.
“I’m pretty confident that it will be reinstated.”
A final decision will be made by the IOC later this year.
In the meantime, Tarash says he will continue training and has his sights set on representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games.
He described his London experience as a dream come true.
“It definitely was the highlight of my career,” he said.
“Ever since I was young I always competed in different competitions but I knew that the final aim was to compete at the Olympics.
“Sometimes it is hard to believe that I actually reached that level. I see myself as a lucky guy and it is still all a dream to be honest. It was the best time of my life.”
