Squash

Squash, formerly called squash racquets, is a racket and ball sport played by two players in a four-walled court, with a small, hollow rubber ball. Squash was developed from the older game of racquets in England in the 19th century. About 1830, boys at the Harrow School modified the game when they noticed that a punctured ball, which “squashed” on impact with the wall, offered more variety to the sport.

The World Squash Federation (WSF) is the international federation for the sport, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The WSF has 123 member nations as of 2022.

Squash has been bidding to be on the Olympic Program for many years, and the WSF has formed a commission specifically tasked with obtaining IOC approval of squash as an Olympic sport. A mixed youth exhibition tournament was held at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. Finally, at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India in October 2023, squash was formally approved to be added to the Olympic Programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.