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 Squash was among eight sports shortlisted for possible inclusion at
the 2020 Olympics but failed to make the final list of five sports,
recommended by Tokyo's organizers on Monday.
The five sports that were proposed for the 2020 Summer Games were
baseball/softball, karate, skateboard, sports climbing and surfing.
Squash, bowling and wushu all missed out.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make the final
decision next year on which sports will be accepted for Tokyo,
choosing from the five that were recommended.
"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 Program," WSF
President Narayana Ramachandran said in a statement.
"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."
Squash, played in more than 185 countries, was one of three sports
shortlisted for full inclusion at the Tokyo Olympics when the IOC
voted on the program 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.
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"However, this is not the end for squash," added Ramachandran.
"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."
(Writing by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; Editing by Julian Linden)
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