Wrestling Back On Olympics 2020, Fought Tough To Be Back

Wrestling was reinstated into the Olympic programme for the 2020 and 2024 Games on Sunday, beating baseball/softball and squash after the ancient sport underwent sweeping reforms since being provisionally dropped in February.

Wrestling obtained a majority of 49 votes in a secret ballot among 95 members of the International Olympic Committee after all three sports had made a 20-minute presentation.

Baseball/softball, not on the programme since 2008, got 24 votes. Squash, bidding to become a new Olympic sport, had to settle for 22.

Wrestling was dropped by the IOC executive board in February 2013, but got into a shortlist with the other two in order to get back into the Games through widespread reform and lobbying from many countries including an unlikely Russia-Iran-U.S. alliance.

The vote came after a proposal from Canadian member Dick Pound was rejected to postpone the decision for five months until the Session ahead of the Sochi Winter Games in order to allow a new sport into the programme.

Earlier, the IOC approved the 25 core sports at Summer Games with a 77-16 majority. Rugby sevens and golf will be added in 2016 and wrestling now brings the number of sports back to the maximum 28.

“Thank you for this opportunity of saving our sport. This is the most important day in our 3,000-year history. Remaining in the Olympics is crucial for wrestling’s survival,” new wrestling federation FILA president Nenad Lalovic told the IOC.

Former U.S. Olympic chief and 1988 Games wrestler Jim Scherr said that the ancient sport is practiced among 30 million people in 177 countries.

Scherr said that FILA has undergone “extraordinary progress” since being provisionally dropped by the IOC in February, changing its leadership, bringing athletes and women into executive positions and revising competition formats and scoring.

“We made mistakes and admitted to them,” Lalovic said as wrestling had to field many questions from IOC members.

Baseball/softball lobbied with being played by 65 million people around the world, and with black-and-white footage of legendary players Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig for a return after being dropped following the 2008 Games.

“Give young people a chance to play our game at your Games,” federation co-president Don Porter tearfully pleaded to the IOC, while the son of former Cuban president Fidel Castro, Antonio Castro, named it “not just a sport but a business and a culture.”

Squash federation president N. Ramachandran named his sport the only new one on the shortlist which “represents the future and not the past” and “is more than ready to join the Olympics.” Practiced in 185 countries and boasting world champions from all continents, the presentation included Egyptian world champion Ramy Ashour and highlighted the sport being played in glass cages at exciting locations such as the Pyramids.

But wrestling eventually won and will also benefit from large income through the IOC which distributes a large chunk of its earnings to the sports federations competing in summer and winter Games.

In his final report to a session, outgoing IOC president Jacques Rogge said that federations received 728 million dollars from the 2010 and 2012 Games, a huge increase to the 211 million for 1998 and 2000.

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- Unknown Updated at: Sunday, September 08, 2013

Dara Singh Passes away!

The legendary wrestler and actor, Dara Singh, 84, passed away today at 7.30 a.m. He breathed his last breath at his residence in Mumbai. He was admitted to hospital three days back following cardiac arrest and it is said to have affected brain and caused the damage. Earlier yesterday the doctors had confirmed a 'less chance of recovery' statement and the family had brought him back home. 

His doctor RK Aggarwal said, "He died due to cardiac respiratory arrest at around 7:30 am." Dara Singh will be cremated at 2 pm.

“Yesterday, we brought him from hospital to home…his wish was that he be at his home between his family. He passed away at 7.30 am due to cardio-respiratory arrest, he had suffered paralysis a few years back, and he also had a very rare brain disease.” added Aggarwal.

Yesterday Vindu Dhara Singh, had mentioned in a statement "He is already home. Please don't follow us. When he breathes his last, I'll let you know. There is no hope,"

He was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital in an emergency condition on July 7. He had suffered a cardiac arrest and since then he has been in the ICU.

Dara Singh remain undefeated in the ring during 1960's and was also known as Rustam-e-Hind and also 'Mahabali' Dara Singh. Dara Singh was the undisputed champion of champions in the wrestling ring and has won many times including the world championship in 1968

The Commonwealth wrestling champion entered film industry in the fifties and is known for his roles in King Kong and Faulad. He was last seen in Imtiaz Ali's Jab We Met (2007) playing Kareena Kapoor's grandfather.

The veteran actor had played the character of Hanuman in Ramanand Sagar's epic television series Ramayan.

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Thursday, July 12, 2012

Dara Singh admitted to hospital - Condition critical

The very first of action heroes in Hindi films, Dara Singh, 83, was admitted to hospital on Saturday around 5pm following cardiac problem. The former wrestler turned actor is much dear to his fans for the various movies and especially the portrayal of Lord Hanuman in Dayanand Sagar's Ramayan serial. The condition of the actor is said to be critical and the medics are keeping a close watch on the actor. 

"Daraji has been suffering from nerve related disorder that has gradually made him rather weak over the years. Today, he suffered a stroke or a clot and is now critical. He will be kept under observation for at least 24 hours. Though he is being treated by great doctors, prayers are needed," his son Vindoo Dara Singh told the media following the actor's hospitalisation.

Dara Singh had trended Hindi cinemas during 1960's and had many action flicks which did extremely well at the box office. Dara became famous as the first ever action hero of Hindi cinema with films like King Kong, Faulad, Samson, Hercules, Tarzan Comes To Delhi and Sher Dil in the 1960s. He was last seen in Jab We Met, the directorial from Imtiaz Ali. 

Interestingly, few actresses in those days wanted to be cast opposite the wrestler-turned-actor. And thus, Dara Singh discovered Mumtaz. They worked together in as many as 16 films and became close family friends. In fact, Mumtaz's sister Mallika married Singh's brother Randhawa. They have a son Shaad.

When asked about the actor's health on Sunday afternoon, Shaad said, "He is critical. But is showing signs of improvement. Please pray for him."

There were many celebrities coming into the hospital by Sunday and Vindoo also confirmed that his health is now getting better, speaking to TOI he says "He's under observation in ICU. The team of doctors is constantly monitoring his health. My dad will soon be fine." Vindoo is very much attached to his dad. 

We pray for the health of our dear Dara Singh!

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Monday, July 09, 2012