Stars Lead Calls for Olympic Inclusion by Nathan Clarke 23RD JUN 2015
- A number of top players have pledged support for squash after the
sport made the shortlist for inclusion at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Eight sports have been put forward by Tokyo’s 2020 Additional Events
Programme Panel with baseball and softball, karate, squash, bowling,
roller sports, climbing, surfing and wushu all vying for inclusion in
the Games.
“I really hope that we get a chance to be in the Olympic Games,” World
No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy said on Twitter.
“We want to show the whole world that we are some of the fittest
athletes around.”
The Egyptian’s brother, Marwan, also championed squash’s cause, saying:
“We are back on the shortlist. This is great news for squash.”
World No.38 Adrian Grant sent out a further rallying cry, adding: “We
gather hope again for a momentous period for squash. Please support us.”
Squash’s Olympic bid, which has been endorsed by stars including Roger
Federer, Andre Agassi and Victoria Pendleton, looked to have suffered
defeat when wrestling was reinstated to the 2020 Olympics ahead of
squash and baseball and softball in September 2013.
However, the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to
abolish the 28-sport cap and change to an events-based system in
December 2014 handed squash a lifeline.
After receiving applications from 26 IOC-recognised International
Federations earlier this month, the IOC narrowed down the number of
possible events to just eight with squash included in the shortlist.
Squash looks on to August 2016 with renewed hope, when a final decision
will be made on which sports will be included in Tokyo.
