2028 Los Angeles Olympics: 'Relief' at squash's inclusion after 'demoralising' wait - Tesni Evans
- Published
Tesni Evans won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Wales' first in the sport for 20 years
Squash's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games comes as "a relief" after a "demoralising" wait, says Wales' Tesni Evans.
The 31-year-old, ranked 15th in the world, is a two-time British champion and eight-time Welsh champion.
Squash is one of five new sports added to the 2028 Games after International Olympic Committee members approved their inclusion on Monday.
"It's incredible and a bit of a relief," Evans told BBC Sport Wales.
"We've been trying for years and years to get into the Olympics to showcase the amazing sport that squash is.
"Every four years you get disappointed you've not made it, so for all of us there is a bit of relief - but now we've got there we can start celebrating it and progressing forward.
"We've seen lots of sports go ahead of us. Take nothing away from those sports, but in squash we have an amazing product with amazing athletes.
"To not be able to showcase that has been so demoralising. It has been difficult to comprehend over the last 10 years and more."
Squash's appearance in 2028 will be the sport's first in the Olympic Games.
Other racquet sports have long been included, with tennis featuring in seven of the first eight Games before being removed.
It was then re-added in 1984, four years before the inclusion of badminton, and both have featured ever since.
Despite the best efforts of governing bodies, appeals for squash to be part of the Olympics had previously been rejected every four years - while other sports such as skateboarding, climbing and surfing were approved.
Squash joins cricket, flag football, lacrosse and baseball/softball in the list of new additions to the 2028 Olympics.
"I'm not sure why it has never made it, that was why it was driving us all mad," Evans said.
"We wanted a reason as to why it wasn't making it so we could go away and fix it.
"The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport, the top event in the world, so to put squash on the global map generates more media attention and money for the sport.
"Hopefully this will grow grassroots up and get the sport booming. It is the first step towards that."
Olympics 'the best goal I could have'
Tesni Evans and Geraint Thomas (bottom right) were the flag bearers for Team Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
The confirmation of squash's inclusion in the Olympics was a belated present for Evans, who celebrated her birthday on the eve of the announcement.
However, with squash's Games debut still five years away and the physical demands of the sport, Evans has not yet got her heart set on competing in Los Angeles.
"It's a difficult one," said Evans.
"Five years is a long time and I'm not at the start of my career, I'm currently injured and my body is starting to slow down, so who knows what the future holds.
"A lot of people will throw their hats in the mix as well as us 'oldies' who would be looking to hold them off and see if we can get a spot.
"I'm midway through recovering from my injury so this has been the best news to wake up to, to motivate myself and improve myself and hopefully keep myself going for another five years."
New Zealand's Joelle King is the only player aged 35 or older currently in the top 50 women's players.
King, ranked fourth in the world, is the same age Evans would be if she were to compete in 2028.
"Joelle is one of my closest friends and she is a massive inspiration in how she has evolved her game as she has got older," said Evans.
"She will probably say she's playing some of the best squash she ever has at 35.
"It is 100% possible if you want to do it. The want is the biggest thing, to still have that drive to improve daily.
"I would be 35 at the 2028 Olympic Games so it is definitely not impossible, and it is something I'll be striving to achieve."