Squash knocking on Olympic door

MANILA, Philippines - Two sports may be added to the calendar of the 2016 Olympics and squash, enjoying a revival of interest around the world, is likely to earn a slot when the IOC General Assembly convenes to decide the schedule and host city at the 13th Congress in Copenhagen this October.

Only 26 sports will be played at the 2012 London Games even as the Olympic Charter allows a limit of 28. Squash, baseball, softball, karate, rugby sevens, golf and roller sports are applying for inclusion in 2016. The IOC will choose up to two sports, if at all.

Brian Cazeneueve of Sports Illustrated recently set odds in the seven-way battle. He tagged softball as a 2-1 favorite, followed by squash at 4-1. The others were far behind with baseball at 6-1, karate at 7-l, rugby sevens at 9-1, golf at 12-1 and roller sports at 15-1.

Described by Cazeneuve as “one of the world’s most popular sports,” squash nearly made it to the 2012 London calendar but failed to garner the 2/3 vote of the General Assembly. Now, just a simple majority is required to break in.

What’s going for squash, aside from its widespread popularity, is it’s economical to stage. The World Squash Federation (WSF) has offered to donate portable glass courts for use in the Olympics, sparing the host city from investing in a permanent structure. Additionally, the world’s top 16 male and female players come from 13 different countries – a demographic feature that is clearly a plus point.

Squash is played by about 15 million people in all five continents and the WSF lists 138 country members, including the Philippines. It is in over 20 multi-sport events, including the World, All-Africa, Commonwealth, Asian, World University, World Masters and Southeast Asian Games.

Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines (SRAP) board member Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, a commercial model who plays at least thrice a week and is working on a coach’s license, said yesterday the organization is throwing its full support behind the effort to enter the Olympics.

The SRAP plans to meet IOC representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde in a show of support for the Olympic bid. WSF president N. Ramachandran of India is scheduled to make a final bid presentation to the IOC Executive Board in June.

De Leon-Gonzalez said the SRAP is doing its share in promoting the sport with a loaded lineup of activities this summer. On April 14-May 4, clinics will be held for players in the 7-18 age range from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, M-W-F, at the Makati Sports Club. Then, the second Celebrity Squash Cup reels off on April 18 at the Manila Polo Club. The second leg of the Milo-SRAP National Open will be played on April 22-25 at the Makati Sports Club. A team from the Singapore Island Country Club, led by former Asian champion Zainal Abidin, will visit for a playing tour in May.

A highlight of the calendar is the second Celebrity Squash Cup where golfer Jennifer Rosales, race car driver Gaby de la Merced, actor Richard Gomez, Dr. Vicki Belo, fashion designer Patrice Ramos-Diaz, TV personality Phoemela Baranda, TV host Angel Jacob, runway model Grace Molina, actor Mike Gayoso, ex-PBA cager Dino Aldeguer, architect Gil Coscolluela, Sen. Bong Revilla, lawyer Duane Santos, photographer Gutsy Tuason, Planet Sports president Anton Gonzalez and wife Mia Nolasco of Luxasia, socialite Neny Montinola, Frenchman Louis Paul Heusaff, Franco Limjuco of Crocs, Manish Mathani of Speedo, Rep. Gilbert Remulla, Ernie Lopez of ABS-CBN Publishing and Rep. Roman Romulo are expected to compete.

The tournament will use the new “Point-A-Rally” scoring system of straight-to-11. The participants will be split into four teams, each to play at least two best-of-3 matches. Sponsors of the event are Nestle, Oil of Olay, Nike, Speedo, Crocs, C2 Collezione, New Balance, Folded & Hung, Randy Ortiz, Karakal, Jewelmer, Fresh Papaya Soap and Supply Oil Field Services.

Last January, the SRAP conducted reach-out teaching clinics for 10 sessions in several schools. Six-time SEA Games bronze medalist Edgar Balleber was the lead coach in the La Salle Zobel clinics where the first graduate Tracie Sonoy, 9, is a Grade 3 student.

SRAP president Romy Ribano said his dream is for a public court to rise in the Rizal Memorial Complex. If and when squash is admitted into the Olympics, it will be easier for the SRAP to raise funds for a public court because of the recognition.

Four cities are in contention to host the 2016 Olympics - front-running Tokyo, Madrid, Chicago and Rio de Janeiro. Eliminated were Baku, Azerbaijan, Doha, Qatar and Prague, Czech Republic.

Six-time World Open champion Jahangir Khan of Pakistan said what will eventually bring squash to the Olympics is its image “as an intensely athletic, healthy, universal, inclusive and exciting world sport.” Khan was in Manila for the Philippine Open in 1978.

De Leon-Gonzalez said there’s no sport quite like squash that provides an exciting, high-energy, calorie-burning cardio workout in less than an hour.

Balleber said squash doesn’t require height or length or extraordinary strength, only quickness, mobility, stamina, intelligence and precise strokes. He pointed out that the world’s No. 1 female player is from Malaysia, Nicole David. The Philippines has bagged a bronze in squash in the last two SEA Games, courtesy of the country’s No. 1 player Robert Garcia.