Squash at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028: Everything you need to know about the new sport at LA28
Squash
Squash is one of five new sports set to feature at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
The IOC approved squash's inclusion for LA28 last year, along with baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and T20 cricket.
Squash has never previously appeared at the Olympic Games although it was a demonstration sport at the Summer Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.
Taking to her social media channels, current women's World No. 1 Nour El Sherbini said of the decision: "I'm super happy and excited that we finally made it to the Olympics.
"I have been always dreaming to play in the Olympics games and have finally made it. Congratulations to everyone and all the squash players and fans. See you in the Olympics."
United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy told World Squash: “It’s everything that you can dream of as an athlete to be able to compete in the Olympic Games. To be able to compete for an Olympic gold medal, and just say that you were an Olympian, is something that no one can ever take away from you.
"To have the chance to compete at LA28 and compete in front of friends and family with a home crowd, it would just be so meaningful.”
Nour El Sherbini of Egypt competes against Laura Massaro of England at the PSA Dubai World Series Finals 2017 at Dubai Opera on June 8, 2017.
What is the squash format?
In competitions, the first player to 11 points - with at least a two-point advantage - wins a game. A point is scored on each rally with serve going to the winner of the point. In the past, a player could only win a point on their own serve.
The first player to three games takes the match. In terms of time, this can last anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour and a half for a five-game epic.
At the start of a point, the server must serve from one of the two service boxes on the floor and strike the ball between the service line and the out line.
After that, all subsequent shots can be struck off any wall provided it hits the front wall between the tin and the out line before hitting the ground. The ball is only permitted to bounce once on the floor.
The winner of a rally receives a point and the next serve. The first player to 11 points - by two clear points - wins a game. The first player to three games takes the match.
What are the squash venues at LA28?
The squash venue for LA28 is yet to be confirmed.
As part of its sustainability pledge, the LA Games are set to use 100 per cent existing and temporary venues for the Olympics.
What is the squash schedule at LA28?
The schedule for squash will be finalised closer to the Games.
Which nations are squash powerhouses?
Egypt is a squash powerhouse and has dominated the sport in recent years with Nour El Sherbini winning seven women's world titles, and finishing second on a further three occasions.
Demonstrating the African country's brilliance, El Sherbini defeated compatriot Nouran Gohar in three finals from 2021-2023, before Gohar finally beat her major rival in the 2024 final in Cairo.
It's a similar story on the men's side, with Egyptians winning seven of the last eight world titles. And of those seven victories, six were all-Egyptian finals, with Ali Farag winning four of them. Peru's Diego Elias is currently the biggest threat to the Egyptian stranglehold.
Currently, the women's No. 1 is El Sherbini, with three of her compatriots also in the top 10, while there are five Egyptians in the world's top 10 men's players, headed up by Farag.
Other players to keep an eye on are 2017 men's world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy, an Egyptian-born player who switched allegiance to England, and New Zealand's Paul Coll, the men's World No. 2, who has four world championship medals to his name.