April 26, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1429

LONDON, April 25: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has included squash on the shortlist of sports under consideration for the 2016 Olympic Games.

This has been the outcome of extensive global campaigning by the World Squash Federation since the sport narrowly missed out being added to the London 2012 programme.

The WSF has received news from the IOC that squash has been short-listed for the 2106 Olympic Games along with baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby and softball.

In a letter to former world champion and President WSF Jahangir Khan, IOC Sports Director Christophe Dubi congratulated and thanked Jahangir “most sincerely for the tremendous work you accomplished in order to complete the questionnaire for IOC Recognised International Federations.”

In 2005, squash was voted into the London 2012 Olympic Games ahead of karate, roller sports, rugby and golf - but then failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required to become ratified as an Olympic sport.

“I am confident that the reason why squash was chosen ahead of other sports in 2005 is down to its image as an intensely athletic, healthy, universal, inclusive and exciting world sport,” said the WSF President. “This image is the result of decades of positive development.”

Jahangir was delighted to receive the IOC letter, only days after being the final torchbearer in the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay in Islamabad.

“This is truly excellent news for our sport,” said one of the sport’s most distinguished players, with six World Open titles and record ten British Open trophies to his name. “We will be working very hard to convince the IOC that Squash deserves a place on the Olympic Programme.”—Agencies