SINGAPORE, Nov 27: Frustrated by two failed bids to get squash into the Olympics, world number one Nicol David and her fellow players have embarked on a campaign to raise the sport’s global profile in an attempt to win over IOC chiefs in Hong Kong this week.

One sport will be added to the programme for the 2020 Games with squash up against karate, the Chinese martial art of wushu, baseball, softball, roller sports, wakeboarding and sport climbing.

The IOC will make its decision on a host for the 2020 Games, as well as which sport to add, at its session in Argentina in September 2013.

IOC observers are inspecting the Hong Kong Open as part of their squash evaluation and David said the tournament was the ideal setting to show the sport deserved a place at the Games.

“Hong Kong is the perfect place for the IOC’s inspection,” David said. “They have always put on a good show and the players love coming here. No doubt we can impress the IOC.”

Determined to avoid rejection for a third time, squash examined how to make the game more fan-friendly and appealing to TV. Players have also been trying to raise its profile by staging flash mob dances in Malaysia and New York.—Reuters