Les têtes de série, seeds comme diraient les grands bretons, ont été désignées au Belgian Junior Open 08.
On bended knee: James Willstrop (left) says players are 'almost begging' to have squash included as an Olympic sport Photo: ED SYKES
Squash, which has been targeting an Olympic spot since 1986, will be vying for one of two available openings for the 2016 Games when the International Olympic Committee assembly meets in Copenhagen on Oct 2.
The sport narrowly failed to be included for the 2012 Games by virtue of the IOC's controversial two-thirds majority decision three years ago in Singapore - despite being voted the number one sport. However, under a new rule, it will take a simple majority vote for a sport to be voted onto the Olympic programme.
Khan, a six-times world champion, said: "It has been too long. We cover all the Olympic criteria and we are deserving to be on the programme. I know what the players feel about it [being excluded] and to some current players they may never get the chance to play in the Olympics."
As part of the initiative, the WSF have also been given the players' backing by signing an Olympic pledge that winning gold would be the pinnacle in their sport. Khan added: "I can guarantee that all top 32 players would play in the Olympics."
England's James Willstrop, the world No 3, has also put his weight behind the bid, saying that many players are "increasingly doubtful as to what the IOC criteria is".
"We never get answers as to why we are not in the Olympic regime. They [the IOC] will see how good it is and then they might be able to tell us why we can't get into the Olympic Games. The sport should be there and every other racket sport is. You feel cynical as to the reasons and in the end we are almost begging to be included which in the end results in everything getting quite tiring."
He added: "To me squash fits the Olympic ideal and takes in every attribute: it is healthy, easy to play, largely unaffected by drugs as well as it being of global appeal. Some of the other sports do not do that I'm afraid."
Willstrop, who is bidding to become the first Briton to win the World Open since Peter Nicol in 1999, believes the Manchester event is the perfect showcase to highlight the sport's appeal.
He said: "I think we have to latch on to this tournament. If we let it go nothing will happen, but if we tell the world then we might achieve something.
"Television is somewhere we have to improve and it certainly has to be slicker. When I go to particular tournaments I am blown away by how spectacular the venues are as well as being how far removed it is from the old: the cold back courts from the Seventies and Eighties."
Nick Rider, England Squash chief executive, said: "It is a tough competition as there some big sports on the candidate list, but there is that feeling that squash has Olympic credentials. A lot of people are surprised it's not on the agenda."
The six other sports shortlisted for Olympic inclusion are: baseball, golf, karate, rugby, softball and roller sports.
The road to Copenhagen
Oct 2008
IOC observers Sir Craig Reedie and Pierre Ducrey at the World Championships
Nov 2008
All candidate sports present to the IOC programme commission in Lausanne. Executive board will then submit proposals to full IOC in Copenhagen on which sports to include
Dec-Mar 2009
Detailed questionnaire to be completed
Apr 2009
IOC programme commission will prepare reports assessing seven shortlisted sports
Jun 2009
For the first time, a presentation will be made by federations to IOC executive board in Lausanne
Oct 2009
Executive board proposal submitted to IOC assembly session in Copenhagen
source : Telegraph.co.uk
