From gloom to joy for grappler Dan

Oldham Sports Awards Schoolboy Wrestler Daniel Panczyszyn

WRESTLING:

OLDHAM teenager Daniel Panczyszyn breathed a huge sigh of relief when wrestling was reinstated to the Olympic programme.

He believes the scare will take the sport forward.

The 16-year-old’s Olympic dreams have been through the mill this year: wrestling was recommended for dropping from the Games in February - Rio 2016 was set to be its last appearance.

But his desolation quickly turned to elation as eight sports seeking inclusion reduced to in May, allowing wrestling a reprieve. The sport will now feature at the 2020 and 2024 Games - with Panczyszyn, who attends Oasis Academy Oldham, keen to put himself up for selection after winning British junior titles in each of the past six years.

“It was amazing news for the whole sport and especially guys my age,” he said. “For us it’s really important as the Olympics give you more chances to compete on a bigger stage.

“I would have still carried on had the decision been different. It’s not my main aim in life to be an Olympic champion. There’s not much support in this country in terms of funding, so you have to love wrestling to compete in it.

“There was a massive uproar at the time but I don’t think anyone seriously thought it was going to be dropped. Everyone was quite confident - but a lot of effort had to be put in to make it happen. The rules have been improved and that will make it more entertaining for viewers.”

Panczyszyn hopes it will be business as usual in the coming months as he prepares to mount another assault on the British Junior Championships this month.

As far as he is concerned senior and international honours are a long way down the line but he is now pencilling in the 2020 Olympics, to be held in Tokyo, as his time to challenge the world’s elite.

“The Olympics aren’t on my mind now but when I’m not a junior in two years’ time then I can start thinking about it,” he added.