The International Olympic Committee on Monday in India confirmed five new Olympic sports for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. One of the approved sports was squash, which has never been an Olympic sport before.
Squash, or “kössi” as it is nicknamed in Finnish, has been nominated as an Olympic sport for several years. However, sports people have always had to settle for squash being left out of the Olympic selections.
Urheilu caught up with Finland’s number one player Emilia Soinwho was surprised by the choice of the sport for the Olympics.
– I was very happy with this decision, but also confused as to what the choice concretely means for squash or myself. However, the selection is a dream come true for our sport, the players as well as myself, said Soini, reached at the airport.
– The Olympic selection of squash has been a bit of a problem for us players, because the sport has not been accepted for the Olympics before. It’s something I’ve personally been a bit bitter about, but now there’s no need to be anymore, Soini admits.
Squash has grown as a sport especially in North America in the last couple of decades. That is why it is appropriate that the sport will be seen for the first time at the Los Angeles Olympics. It is estimated that there are approximately two million squash enthusiasts in the United States.
Squash Federation Mika Monton According to
Egypt is considered the superpower of the sport, which has dominated the sport almost overwhelmingly in both men’s and women’s prestigious competitions. Finland’s biggest star is Soini, who just celebrated his 28th birthday on Monday, and has been at his best in the world ranking at number 41 in May 2022. Currently Soini is 56th in the ranking. In a body Miko Aijänen is the highest among Finns in the world ranking at number 167.
“Best Non-Olympic Sport”
Former professional player and current executive director of the Finnish Squash Federation Mika Monto, like Soini, was confused by the Olympic Committee’s decision.
– Information had already come earlier that the selection could now come. However, there have been many times here, so close to the Olympic selection that there was no sign of celebration until the information was confirmed. For 20-30 years, they have been trying to get the sport into the Olympics. In the past, the feeling has been that no, no, and let’s focus on being the best non-Olympic sport. Nice thing anyway. Yes, this creates a different starting point for us for many things, for example obtaining financing.
Squash players and money have been talked about in sports circles in the past, because Soini is, for example opened earlier about financial contributions to IS. He said at the time that he was left without an athlete’s scholarship because squash was not an Olympic sport. However, things are different now.
– I hope that selection for the Olympics would have a positive effect on at least receiving a state grant, if nothing else. I believe that the chances are at least better if you are an Olympic athlete than if you are not.
A possible Olympic place motivates
In Monto’s opinion, the competition for an Olympic place will certainly give a boost to the players’ training as well.
– At least the athletes know how to appreciate that squash is now in the Olympics. Tennis, as an example, was at one point such a sport that not everyone even went to the Olympics to try, when no prize money was paid for it. I think it’s a very different situation in squash. I see that everyone is excitedly going to hunt for that Olympic place.
Soini states that squash’s Olympic place will certainly motivate many to train more or even come back to the sport.
– Now there is a concrete goal for a few years that you can set for yourself. The Olympics has been a dream since childhood and it’s good to go towards it.
– At least the competition is not decreasing. The system, how the players are selected for the Olympics, is still quite obscure. We’ll see later what kind of chances our players have to reach the Olympics, Monto sums up.
New coach
At the beginning of October, Soini played in a world tour tournament in Philadelphia and lost there in the first round match to an Egyptian Nada for Abbas.
Now he’s back from the Yankees and says he’s excited about the new coaching style. The Espoo gambler’s new coach is American Luke Butterworthwho in his time has, among other things, piloted the national squash team of Paraguay.
Soini states that the fight for Olympic places can especially affect tough countries with a lot of top players.
– Basically, we have a really tough level in the sport at the moment. It is not yet known what system is used to select players for the Olympics. For example, is there a limited amount of land. I claim that the Egyptians can at least see it if, for example, only three players from the country are selected for the Olympics.
European Championship bronze medalist Soini hopes that squash’s Olympic place would also bring more publicity to the sport in Finland.
– Let’s hope that I can make it to the Olympics. It would be a very positive and meaningful thing for Finnish squash if we also had players there.
The Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles from 14 to 30 July 2028.