Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Gerard Monteiro (main image, left) gave up his career as a player after the sport did not make it to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, as he “needed to earn a living”.
Fast forward to 2023, and Monteiro, the World Squash Federation’s (WSF) Marketing & Commercial Commission chairman, is delighted that the sport will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles (LA28) Olympic Games.
He said that while it is a good day for Malaysia, building future champions will be increasingly harder, as other nations would also be eyeing the gold medal.
“The WSF, US Squash Association, and the Professional Squash Association have been working quietly behind the scenes to get squash into the Olympics, these past 18 months. We kept it quiet, as we have had many disappointments, going back to 1989,” said Monteiro.
“A lot has changed since then. Squash is no longer the domain of one or two countries. If you see the world rankings, we have players from four continents in the world’s Top Five.
“I slowly gave up my career as a player in 1992, as I needed to earn a living. It feels good that our players can have a better career, and a chance to play in the Olympics.”
Monteiro said he hoped SRAM could start attracting more sponsors, now that it is an Olympic sport.
SRAM’s biggest supporter, CIMB Foundation, had gradually cut its funding from RM1.6 million, to barely RM400,000 a year, after the Inland Revenue Board declined to give the bank a tax rebate on its sponsorship.
Nonetheless, squash delivered three gold medals in the just-concluded Asian Games, its best outing since 2012.
S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow won the women’s and men’s individual gold medals, while the former powered the women’s team to the top of the podium.
“We have been one of the better-run associations in Malaysia. We have the results to prove it, but we need help,” said Monteiro.
“India, who is one of our closest rivals, was waiting for this news (Olympics), and they will be more competitive at the next Asian Games, and also the Olympics.
“We have been nurturing this group of players (at the Asian Games) for a while now. We must now get down to work to source for more funding, and to come up with a programme that may help Malaysia finally win an Olympic gold medal.”
Meanwhile, eight-time world champion Datuk Nicol David expressed her delight that squash is finally in the Olympics.
David had worked tirelessly in the past to get the sport in the Games, and on her Facebook page, wrote: “Quite emotional getting this news! More than 30 years of bidding and fighting for squash to get included – so many tears shed when we got a ‘No’, but today, it paid off.”
WSF President Zena Wooldridge welcomed the decision to include squash in the 2028 Olympics.
“On behalf of the entire global squash community, I would like to express my immense delight at squash’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games.
“Squash is an amazingly dynamic, diverse, and demanding sport that is perfectly suited for the Olympic Games. Everyone involved in our sport is elated to be LA28-bound, and we look forward to being part of an unparalleled Olympic Games experience.”
Additional details on the LA28 Olympic Games sporting schedule will be announced by the LA28 Organising Committee. The squash community, both in the United States and around the world, embraces the spirit of unity, sportsmanship, and excellence that the Olympics represents, and eagerly anticipates the LA28 Olympic Games.
