Unified body needed for Olympic status, says Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Former greats of the game agree the men's and women's federations must be merged into one
Former greats of the game gathered in Hong Kong are urging a unified approach among international squash organisations to strengthen its bid to become an Olympic sport.
The sport is "fractured", with two bodies - the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Women's Squash Association (WSA) - organising tournaments for men and women separately.
"We are working towards this and may be merging soon," said former world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who is set to play in an all-Australian final with Sarah Nelson in the women's 45 or over category at the World Masters Championships in Hong Kong tomorrow.
The sport is fractured because the two bodies are doing the same jobs in different ways. They should be fighting for the tour together
Fitz-Gerald, a member of the athletes' commission of the governing World Squash Federation (WSF) and national team coach for Australia, said the players were "doing everything possible that the International Olympic Committee wants".
The five-time world champion from Melbourne was on the bidding committee when squash was again rejected by the IOC last September. Instead of picking up a new sport, wrestling was restored for the 2020 Games.
But new IOC president Thomas Bach gave squash renewed hope when he said last year the number of Olympic sports may be increased for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
"I don't see what we lack to qualify for the Olympic family," Fitz-Gerald said.