Wrestling, along with baseball-softball and squash, were the final sports shortlisted for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics as karate, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu were cut from the original list of eight by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruling Executive Board.

Secret electronic voting by the 15 IOC Executive Board members decided the three sports and wrestling were selected in the first round with eight votes.

It will be the favourite to retain its place on the Olympic programme when the full IOC membership vote on September 8 of which of the three sports to include at the 2020 Olympics at their Session in Buenos Aires.

The move comes despite wrestling having originally been recommended by the IOC Executive Board for exclusion after Rio 2016 in February this year.

The decision saw Raphaël Martinetti of Switzerland resign as FILA President.

But under new leadership of Lalovic - who replaced Martinetti as interim President before being official elected President this month - wrestling's fortunes have been completely transformed but the Serb admits it is now time to look ahead to the final vote.

"I want to thanks the whole wrestling community," said Lalovic following the decision.

"This is a victory for them.

"But we must remember that this is only the first half.

"The second half is now coming up and we must be ready.

"We have baseball-softball and squash to compete with now and it will be a tough fight.

"But we are wrestling so we are good fighters!

"It is difficult because every sport is fighting as hard as they can – in an ethical way.

"We will continue doing just that.

"We had one strategy when we were one of eight sports and we will have another strategy now we are one of three sports.

"It will be hard, but we will give our absolute best to continue to be part of the Olympic Games."

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