Squash to have 16 players per gender at Los Angeles Olympics 2028

LONDON (Agencies): The raquet sport’s long-awaited Olympic debut will be a humble one, after the International Olympic Committee confirmed the athlete quota for LA28 would total just 16 players per gender — just half of what was initially proposed.  While the Los Angeles Olympics are hoping to be the biggest in history, with more medal events and athlete quotas for sports such as climbing and water polo, squash is currently set to be the next Summer Games’ smallest sport.  This confirmation followed an extensive review by the IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission aimed at delivering a sustainable and cost-effective Games. To control growth and its strain on resources, the global body established a strict athlete cap on its Agenda 2020.

While the IOC recognises the importance of introducing new sports to the programme, it aims to keep the Games’ overall size and scope manageable. The addition of five new sports to LA28’s Olympic programme will bring the total number of athletes to 11,198, making it the largest Olympic Games in history. According to Squash Facilities Network, these reductions suggest that the decision to limit the discipline to 16 athletes per gender was not primarily related to factors within squash itself but was driven by broader IOC strategic and logistical considerations. With just half the expected berths in qualification, the World Squash Federation and Professional Squash Association need to rethink how qualifiers will work. It had been expected that two players from top-ranked nations would compete, with continental qualifiers making up the quota.

16 men and 16 women will now compete individually, which will affect rankings places over the next three years, according to Squash Mad. The IOC Executive Board is not expected to approve the qualification process for all sports until late 2025 or early 2026. As the sport figures out its qualification process, it will have to plan for its Olympic future and ensure that it stays on the Olympic programme. Squash Facilities stressed that the sport has the characteristics to become a core sport of the Games.  The IOC has been prioritising urban sports to connect with younger audiences, and squash is well-positioned to thrive as its facilities can be built virtually anywhere and are fairly accessible financially. It’s also fast-paced and visually impactful, creating electrifying moments that engage crowds.  Squash will certainly have its moment in the spotlight. Universal Studios is set to host the inaugural squash tournaments in 2028, perfectly setting the scene for a small sport to make it big under Hollywood’s bright lights.