KARACHI, July 7: Pakistan’s squash legend Jahangir Khan on Thursday hailed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to consider the sport he once dominated for inclusion in the 2020 Games.

The IOC recently put squash on a shortlist of eight sports which could be added to the Olympics in 2020.

“Squash needs that fillip and we have been trying for this for the last several years. Now the time has come when squash be included in the Olympics on merit,” Jahangir, a former World Champion, stated.

The 48-year-old Jahangir led the campaign to add the sport to the Olympic programme during his three-year tenure as World Squash Federation (WSF) president, which ended in 2008.

“We lost to golf and rugby in 2016, but now I am sure of its inclusion in 2020,” added Jahangir, who is now the honorary life president of the WSF.

Jahangir ruled the squash courts from 1981 to 1992, winning a world record ten British Open titles. He also won six World Open crowns and remained unbeaten for five years and eight months between 1981 and 1986.

Squash will vie with baseball, karate, roller sports, softball, sports climbing, wakeboarding and wushu for inclusion in the 2020 programme. Only one sport will be chosen to join the event.—AFP