SQUASH has never been included in the Olympic Games but one Chelmsford star is hoping to play his part in changing all that this week.
Daryl Selby takes part in the Hong Kong Open, which starts this Sunday, under the watchful eye of the International Olympic Committee – the body which decides on the sports to be included in the 2020 Olympiad.
It was snubbed for London 2012 and then Rio 2016 in favour of golf and rugby sevens but changes to this bid include a simplified a scoring system and all-glass courts.
"This is a pretty important tournament for all those involved in squash," said Selby who lives in Chelmsford.
"We all think it's about time the sport was put in to the Olympics and now we've all got to show why."
A decision on the final sports for the 2020 Olympics will be made in May next year the venue for the Games is yet to be decided.
This tournament includes the world's top 32 players and a prize fund of HK $1.6 million, roughly £130,000.
In the opening round Selby plays Botswana's Alister Walker. Then, the following week, the current world number ten takes part in the WSF World Individual Championships in Doha, Qatar considered the biggest event on the squash calendar.
"I would like to see myself make the semi-finals," said the 30-year-old. "It's going to be tough and I'll have to beat players ranked higher than me but I've beaten them before.
"If I get to the semis you never know what's going to happen. I won the British Championship in 2011, so I'm capable. "It's just the guys above me are able to be that bit more consistent."
At this time last year Selby's form was curtailed by back and foot injuries but thankfully he's now fully fit.
So far this term he's lost in the last 16 of the British Grand Prix and the US Open to world number one James Willstrop and in the quarter-finals of an event in San Francisco Open to world number two Nick Matthew.
"I had a chance to win in the US Open but just didn't take my chances," he said.
"I've been a bit unlucky with the draws – it doesn't come much tougher."
He's hoping to break in to the world's top eight soon which will mean he's given preferential seeding for the bigger events.
