New Delhi, March 21: Former world number one squash player Saurav Ghosal has hailed squash athletes as some of the best in the world. He emphasized that they deserve a significant platform to showcase their talents—the Olympics.
Ghosal stressed the urgent need for squash to enhance its global presence and adapt to modern consumption trends. He noted that the sport is not only competing with other sports but is also vying for attention as it prepares for its Olympic debut.
With squash set to be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics, Ghosal pointed out that the sport must demonstrate its importance by significantly increasing participation and viewership worldwide. “Securing a spot in Los Angeles 2028 is a tremendous achievement for us. The journey to Olympic inclusion has been long. There is no doubt that the world’s top squash players are among the finest athletes and deserve to showcase their skills on the biggest stage—the Olympics,” he stated.
However, he also emphasized that mere inclusion in the Olympics is not enough for the sport’s longevity. “As a sport, we need to enhance our global participation. Currently, it is decent, but if we truly want to secure our place in major events and be part of significant discussions, we must see substantial growth,” he added.
Ghosal proposed several key steps to achieve this growth, including increased publicity for the sport and grassroots outreach. “One way to do this is by showcasing it on television. Audience numbers are crucial. In countries where squash is already popular, we should further amplify its appeal. We need to reach more schools and create engaging formats like World Premier Squash to connect with and entertain people,” he suggested.
Highlighting the changing dynamics of audience engagement, Ghosal remarked that squash must rethink how it competes for attention in today’s world. “We need to understand that we are not just competing for attention with other sports. We are in a race for attention against everything in the world—be it sitcoms, social media creators, or anything else. Therefore, we must accept this reality, embrace it, and find ways to connect with a broader audience. The larger this audience is, the more confidently the International Olympic Committee will consider squash for inclusion in the Olympics,” he concluded.
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