SQUASH PLANET!

[chekyo]

Monday April 13, 2009
Decision on squash’s Olympic status in October

KUALA LUMPUR: A decision on whether squash will become an Olympic sport in 2016 will be known in October.

But Malaysia are already thinking ahead and embarking on a seven-year programme to build a team with the potential to win medals at the Games.

And even reigning world No. 1 Nicol David will still be part of the plan barring any career-threatening injuries.

She will be 33-years-old, the oldest member of the Malaysian squash team then, if the sport gets into the Olympic programme.

The Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president, Datuk A. Sani Karim, said yesterday that they were looking beyond 2009.

“This is an important year for squash. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) will name the venue for the 2016 Games on Oct 7. And on Oct 28, the 28 sports in the programme will be revealed,� he said.

“Squash is one of the seven sports trying to get into the programme. Only two will be selected and we hope to be one of them.�

The six others seeking inclusion are baseball, golf, karate, rugby 7s, roller speedskating and softball. “We are currently looking at identifying juniors, who will be ready to mount the challenges. We will work out programmes so that in seven years’ time, the players will be ranked among the top 10 in the world,� said Sani.

“Even Nicol is ready to extend her career until then if squash makes it as an Olympic sport. We hope to have more solid women and men players by then.

“We are happy that the NSC (National Sports Council) has approved the funding for our programmes for the next two years. But we hope that they will continue with their support to make our seven-year programme successful.�

Sani, who is also the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) president and the regional vice-president in the World Squash Federation (WSF), said that the world of squash had heightened the promotional activities this year.

“A lot of activities are in the pipeline to promote squash. In fact, on May 23, we will celebrate the Squash 2016 Day.

“The world body is really working hard to get the sport in,� said Sani. “If we miss the cut this time, it will be difficult for squash. This is our best chance to get in.�
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