New Zealand squash No1 Martin Knight continues to back his sport's push for Olympic inclusion, although his chances of competing are nil with the 2020 Games the earliest it can gain acceptance.
Knight, 28, has been part of the last two Commonwealth Games, winning silver in Delhi two years ago, but said the sport's latest snub, apparently because it is difficult to televise, was tough to take.
Golf and rugby sevens beat squash to the punch for 2016 in Rio, but Knight remains steadfast in his belief the sport will eventually get the nod as it embraces new innovations that include glass walls and floors, enhanced camera angles, video referrals and a trio of umpires instead of a solitary adjudicator.
One sport will be added for the 2020 Games, with squash competing against the likes of baseball, softball, karate, rock climbing, rollersports and the Chinese martial art wushu.
"While I absolutely treasure my silver medal from the Commonwealth Games [he won in the mixed doubles with world No12 Joelle King], the Olympics is the pinnacle, not just for squash but for most sports," Knight said.
"Getting our sport in the Olympics would be massive and something I think will happen, although unfortunately for me my time will be up, even if it makes it in 2020. By then I'll be will into the back end of when I'll be holding a squash racket competitively."
Knight is in Tauranga for tomorrow night's Pro-Am exhibition at the Mount Squash Club, with he and Kiwi No2 Campbell Grayson playing an exhibition match, helping run a coaching clinic and taking on members of the crowd. Tickets are $15.
Knight, who has won three PSA world tour tournaments in South Australia, Christchurch and Vancouver, remains the highest ranked New Zealander on the PSA world men's circuit, slipping one place to No43 yesterday, with Grayson also slipping a spot to 50th.
Knight came up with the idea of a national exhibition tour 18 months ago and took it to 11 centres last year, with 13 clubs on board this year.
"Wanting to get squash out to different clubs was the catalyst, and while our target is the squash audience we're also hoping to attract new people and those who perhaps played the game 10 or 15 years ago and are keen to come back."
Knight and Grayson are in a lull on the world tour as the northern hemisphere moves into summer, although there are plenty of upcoming opportunities for tournament play in New Zealand over the coming months. He and Grayson also have tournaments lined up in Mexico and Guatemala in two weeks.
Although the Olympics remains just out of reach Knight said he was keen to try to turn silver into gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
"Doing well in all three disciplines is the big goal. Campbell and I were fifth in Delhi and fourth in Melbourne in the men's doubles, and although our major focus is around singles for much of the year, doubles tends to become more of a priority whenever the Commonwealth Games or world doubles champs rolls around."