Squash, inaasahang maisama sa France Summer Games

Dismayado si Philippine Squash Association president Robert Bachmann sa patuloy na hindi pagpili sa kanilang sports na maging parte ng prestihiyosong Summer Games sa taong 2024 sa Paris, France.

Matagal na umanong itinutulak ng World Squash Federation at PSA na mapabilang ang kanilang pampalakasan sa Olympic Games partikular na sa 2024 Paris, gayong ilan sa mga naaprobahang mapasama sa listahan ng sports programme nito ay bago lamang.

“Just like many past and present Squash players worldwide, we have reacted with a sense of bewilderment after the sport was excluded from the list of additional events proposed for the Paris 2024 Olympics,” pahayag ni Bachmann sa panayam ng BULGAR.

“We should have been part of the Olympic movement years ago. The sport has always been shortlisted for the event since 2012 Olympics. It’s very frustrating indeed. Sports are being pulled from left field now,” dagdag nito.

Hindi makapaniwala si Bachmann kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring aprobasyon ang International Olympic Committee (IOC) sa squash samantalang naibigay naman nito ang mga kinakailangan para mapabilang sa quadrennial meet.

“Squash has met the supposed “criteria” for an Olympic sport for many years now but sadly the system to include new sports in the Olympics programme seems flawed,” wika ni Bachmann, na malugod namang nakuntento sa nakamit ng kanyang koponan sa 30th Southeast Asian Games sa pagkuha ng mga ito ng kauna-unahang gintong medalya kasama ang 2 silver at 2 bronze medals.

“During the campaign, we showed that squash has a vibrant and real forward-looking programme rooted in constant innovation, which strives for more inclusiveness and sustainability, youth engagement and equality across all of our activities in and outside of the court,” dagdag nito.

Kabilang sa mga bagong sports na magigisnan sa paparating na Tokyo Olympics sa Japan simula sa Hulyo 24-Agosto 9 ay ang 3x3 basketball, Freestyle BMX at Madison Cycling o mas kilala bilang American Race, habang magbabalik ang sport na Baseball at Softball. Magde-debut naman ang mga sports na Karate, Sports Climbing, Surfing at Skateboarding sa 33 sports at 339 events.

Hindi sigurado kung makababalik pa ang Softball sa susunod na quadrennial meet sa Paris, ngunit ang ang Sports Climbing, surfing at Skateboarding, gayundin ang breakdancing na itinulak ng host country para mapasama sa 28 sports na may 319 events, ay kasama sa 2024 Games.