Squash ready than ever for Olympics: WSF chief Ramachandran

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Buenos Aires (Argentina), Sep 5 (IANS) World Squash Federation (WSF) president N. Ramachandran says the racket sport is ready than ever to join the Olympic movement. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce the one new sport for the 2020 Summer Games here Sunday.

The WSF delegation that will present its case to join the 2020 Olympics arrived here Thursday ahead of its presentation to the IOC Session Sunday. Squash is fighting its Olympic battle with wrestling and softball/baseball.

Speaking upon their arrival in Buenos Aires, WSF president and head of the delegation Ramachandran said: “This is the third consecutive bid by squash to join the Olympics so our journey to get here has been a long one – 10 years in fact. We have learnt an enormous amount in that time. We have listened to the IOC, taken on board their advice and as a sport we have truly evolved and embraced innovation. There can be no doubt that squash can offer something exciting and fresh to the Olympic experience, and we are proud to be the only new Olympic sport on the shortlist.

Ramachandran said squash offered a convenient option for the organisers.

“Squash would be low cost and easy to integrate into the Games with just 64 athletes. We could share a venue if required, or be located to showcase an iconic backdrop – and we have a track record of doing exactly this, such as in front of the Pyramids.

“We are a global sport played in 185 countries by many millions across the world. We are growing in regions such as South America, central Europe, China, and India as well as in the more traditional Squash areas including the United States, where we have over one million players.”

He added: “Squash can honestly say that now we are more than ready. Our sport has been on a journey of innovation in recent years, especially in the way it is broadcast and presented. State of the art all-glass courts, referee video review, lighting and music have radically enhanced the spectator experience.

“We are already played in every major multi-sport Games and the respected Forbes Magazine has described us as the ‘world’s healthiest sport’, and of course we have a 100 percent doping-free record. These are themes that we will certainly bring to life in our presentation.”