Indian stars hope squash makes it to Olympics

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS):

India’s top squash players Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal are ecstatic at their sport being shortlisted for the 2020 Summer Games but see a nervous wait ahead for the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) final vote in September on the lone available Olympic spot.

IOC’s executive board Wednesday recommended baseball, squash and wrestling for possible inclusion in the Olympic programme for the 2020 Games. Squash is bidding for Olympics after two failed attempts.

“I am very happy at the moment. Though we know that we have three crucial months ahead of us. It is going to be nerve-wracking. I hope we get the Olympic nod in September,” Pallikal told IANS from London.

The final vote on the one available spot for the 2020 edition will be held at the full IOC session in Buenos Aires in September.

Asked about the competition from the other two sports, the World No.15 said: “Our federation (WSF) has done everything they could. It is now only left to the IOC to see how fantastic a sport squash is and give us a chance.”

Ghosal too was excited at the news and hoped that squash will cross the final hurdle.

“It is great news, I am keeping my fingers crossed now. The other two sports are also trying their best but I hope squash comes out at the top. It is a dream for every player to compete in the Olympics and I am no different,” Ghosal told IANS from Kolkata.

“We don’t know what is going to happen at the final vote but our sport surely deserves a place in the Olympics,” the World No.19 added.