LONDON: Almost within sight of the Perspex box Nick Matthew used to parade his rapier-like racket skills and boundless stamina last week was the reason the world squash champion’s celebrations at yet another title were tinged with regret.
The 31-year-old Briton’s triumph at the Canary Wharf Classic in the heart of London’s glittering financial hub, the latest stop on the PSA World Tour, was just a mile or so away from the heart of the Olympic Park that will welcome the world’s greatest athletes in 26 different sports this year.
Sadly for Matthew, however, squash will not be at the party.
Its last two attempts to persuade the IOC to add squash to London’s schedule, and to the Rio Olympics in four years, both failed, meaning Matthew’s dream of reaching “the pinnacle” of his chosen sport will never be realised.
Optimism is high that the latest campaign, aimed at 2020, could succeed but it will be too late for Matthew.
“It’s gut-wrenching,” Yorkshire’s Matthew, who is being used as ambassador for squash’s latest bid for Olympic recognition, told Reuters at the Canary Wharf tournament, a slick event that highlights the innovations made in the sport such as glass walls, enhanced camera angles, video referrals and music.
“We are devastated not to be at the London Olympics really. It will be hard to watch. My girlfriend is involved with the British cycling team, so it’s mixed emotions.,” he said. “Squash is one of the sports in which Britain would have had great potential for gold medals. But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we have to concentrate on 2020 and beyond and look at the bigger picture, even if that will be too late for me,” added the Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
The World Squash Federation (WSF) is determined to make it third time lucky as it prepares to present its credentials to the IOC’s programmes commission in December.
One sport will be added for the 2020 Games, with squash competing against the likes of baseball, softball, karate, rock climbing, rollersports and the Chinese martial art wushu.
While the WSF admits previous bids lacked a little dazzle, current chief executive Andrew Shelly believes the sport is ready to showcase itself in whichever city hosts the 2020 Games.—Reuters
