Squash misses out as five sports stay in consideration for 2020 Olympics
Monday 28 September 2015 12:15, UK
The head of the World Squash Federation (WSF) is "devastated" for the sport's followers after another Olympic snub.
Squash was one of eight sports being considered for addition to the 2020 Games in Japan, but it failed to make the final list of five, dropping out along with wushu and bowling.
The five sports that were proposed for the 2020 Summer Games are baseball/softball, karate, skateboard, sport climbing and surfing, with the final decision to be made on extra events next summer.
"I don't believe we could have done more to get our message across to both the Tokyo 2020 Games hosts and the IOC how squash could bring something special as an addition to the programme," WSF president Narayana Ramachandran said.
"I know I speak on behalf of the millions of squash players around the world for whom the opportunity of seeing their sport participate in the Olympics has been an absolute priority - and, like me, they will be heartbroken.
"Our sport, played by vast numbers week in and week out, flourishes at every level from recreational to events around the world.
"We will go from strength to strength while we continue to target participation at a future date in the Games."
Squash, which is played in more than 185 countries, was one of three sports shortlisted for full inclusion at the Tokyo Olympics when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted on the programme at its 125th Session in Buenos Aires two years ago.
Wrestling won that vote for inclusion ahead of baseball/softball and squash, but the losers were thrown a lifeline when the IOC later decided that future Olympic host cities could select extra sports they wanted to see contested at the Games.
A total of 18 medal events, nine each for men and women, can be contested across the sports that are chosen, with organisers recommending in their proposal that eight of those medals are offered in karate.
Under the recommendations, the men's baseball tournament would consist of six teams and 144 total players, while the women's softball competition would have six teams and 90 players.
Karate would have eight men's and women's events and a total of 80 athletes; skateboarding proposes two street and two park events for 80 athletes; sports climbing has two events in bouldering, lead and speed combined for 40 athletes; and surfing would have two shortboard events for 40 competitors.
