PSA ‘devastated’ by IOC Snub but Confident the Future of Squash is Bright
September 9, 2013
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) was left ‘devastated’ after wrestling was elected into the Olympic Games over squash, but insisted the sport had a ‘great future.’
Wrestling was voted back into the 2020 Olympic Games on Sunday by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), ahead of baseball/softball and squash.
PSA CEO, Alex Gough (pictured) said: “We are obviously devastated, not only for the whole sport and squash fans everywhere, but for the players, current and future that have worked so hard for this.
“We can be very proud of the efforts of everyone and none more so than our world number one Ramy Ashour, who has put in so much time into the bid process.”
During the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires wrestling was elected in the first round of voting, with 49 votes compared to baseball/softball’s 24 and squash’s 22.
However, Gough was adamant that the set-back would not spell the end for squash’s Olympic efforts.
“The presentation in Buenos Aires yesterday was something we can all be proud of – and shows the great future that squash has, with or without the Olympics,” said Gough. “Our sport has much to offer the Games – let’s hope that this is not the end of our Olympic journey.”