'Great chance' for squash to join 2020 Olympics, says Tony Choi
Hong Kong coach says the IOC executive may alter the roster at its December meeting despite the sport being rejected three times previously
Squash has a "great chance" to join the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, despite being rejected three times, said Hong Kong head coach Tony Choi Yuk-kwan.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will host its executive board meeting and the 127th Session in Monaco in early December and one of the key decisions is possible changes to the Olympic programme.
We have learnt from some very reliable and senior officials squash will have a great chance to be included for the Tokyo Olympic Games on top of its 28 current sport
"We have learnt from some very reliable and senior officials squash will have a great chance to be included for the Tokyo Olympic Games on top of its 28 current sports," said Hong Kong head coach Tony Choi Yuk-kwan.
"There are some new initiatives put forward by the new IOC president and, if it happens, which we are quite confident it will, it is going to be a milestone for the development of squash worldwide and in particular Hong Kong where squash is one of the most established sports."
IOC president Thomas Bach has hailed his reform plan - the "Olympic Agenda 2020"- as a strategic road map that will shape the future of the Olympic movement since he replaced Jacques Rogge a year ago.
The blueprint has three major themes: sustainability, credibility and youth. This includes proposals for a more flexible outlook by adopting an event-based rather than a sport-based approach to the Olympic programme; while retaining the limit on the number of athletes participating.
