Give squash its due

There is no reason why this popular sport should not be on the Olympics menu

Squash been denied Olympic status for more than a decade. Jordan Mansfield / Getty Images

Leading up to the Rio Olympiad, the International Olympic Committee announced that skateboarding, karate, baseball, sport climbing and surfing will be part of the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Absent from the list is squash, a racket sport that has been denied Olympic status for more than a decade.

Although getting a sport involved in Olympics is a long and arduous process, it’s surprising that some seemingly minor sports have been given priority over a game that is played by millions of people in more than 175 countries.

What’s more, the participation level of squash is growing worldwide, including in this region that has consistently produced some of the best players. Egyptian player Mohamed Elshorbagy is the world number one, with five other Egyptians in the top 10.

If the Olympics are to reflect which sports are played across the world, then squash surely has a compelling claim for inclusion.