WSF President presses case for squash to included in 2020 Olympics on mission to Japan
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
Squash is making all the right diplomatic moves in the hope of achieving a place in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
World Squash Federation President N. Ramachandran has had the opportunity to press the case for squash to be added to the 2020 Olympic Games programme in meetings this week with Mr Tsunekazu Takeda, President Japan Olympic Committee, and Mr. Yoshiro Mori, President Tokyo Games Organising Committee, together with other senior executives for the forthcoming IOC Games.
President Ramachandran emphasised the ease of inclusion in respect of low cost, flexible venue, gender equality, and low additional athlete numbers. In addition to additional general benefits to the hosts and the Olympic Games in general, Ramachandran also highlighted that the sport is supremely athletic and played in 185 countries.
“I was grateful for this opportunity to meet Mr Mori and Mr Takeda (pictured with Ramachandran above), and to highlight how serious WSF is in its efforts for squash to be included in the Olympics as a medal sport,” said Ramachandran from Tokyo. “We had a good reception with positive feedback.
“I was also able to reaffirm that every single top squash player would value competing in the Olympic Games higher than any other event, if we are chosen.
“To reinforce this message, I was able to present Mr Mori with a WSF flag signed by all the top women players competing in the recent Women’s World Team Championship,” added the WSF President.
Pictures courtesy of the WSF