World Squash Day makes a racket to back 2020 Olympic bid

The biggest fixture in the history of the sport has a 2020 theme as World Squash Day (WSD) is dedicated to supporting the World Squash Federation (WSF) bid for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games.

More than 750 squash clubs all over the world - representing 72 nations from Argentina to Zimbabwe - will be taking part in the World 2020 Challenge. Each club will field two teams of 20 (often more) representing Team Squash and Team 2020.

Fitness, stamina and skill will be put to the test as players compete in each individual tie, playing one game up to 20 points. Each club score will count towards an overall global result.

 

"At the time of writing, more than 35,000 players have registered to take part in the event, demonstrating significant global support for squash's Olympic bid," said WSD founder Alan Thatcher.

As well as clubs large and small, the world's leading professionals - led by England's James Willstrop and Nick Matthew, the world's number one and two, respectively - are backing the bid with a special WSD event taking place during the new PSA NetSuite Open in San Francisco, USA, tomorrow.

WSF Chief Executive Andrew Shelley said: "This impressive level of support proves conclusively that the worldwide squash family is right behind the Olympic bid. It's very encouraging to see that these clubs are showing such passion to support the bid and are doing so on court."

World Squash Day will be celebrated throughout Asia, with events in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.