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World's top juniors unite behind Squash 2020 Olympic bid

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Press Trust of India Wroclaw (Poland)
Last Updated : Jul 22 2013 | 4:20 PM IST
Despite battling against each other over the past week for the title of 'world junior squash champion' in the historical city of Wroclaw here, the world's leading teenagers are unequivocally united behind the sport's bid to join the Olympic Games programme in 2020.
"It would be a dream come true," said Nour El Sherbini, the 17-year-old Egyptian who made squash history yesterday by becoming the first player to win the world junior title for a third time.
"There are still seven years left, but I hope I will be at the top of my game by then and will have a chance to show that at the Olympics," added the remarkable youngster who is already ranked 11th in the world.
More than 160 players from a record 37 nations have been competing in the 2013 championships at the spectacular new 19-court Hasta La Vista Club in Wroclaw - the event's first staging in Poland.
"Peru has never won an Olympic Gold medal and I want to be the first!" said Diego Elias. "There are many courts in Peru and for players to see squash in the Olympic Games will be great for them."
Qatari Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi added: "Everybody dreams to play in the Olympics. If we are given a place I will be at my best age in 2020, so it would be wonderful. In Qatar, being in the Olympics will bring more people to squash, and everywhere else as well. Squash will get even bigger I am certain."
Salma Hany Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Egyptian who reached the women's quarter-finals, said: "It's a huge thing to play an Olympic sport. It would really mean a lot to get squash into the Olympics."
England outsider Lyell Fuller, a 17-year-old who became the only unseeded player to make the quarter-finals, added: "It's my dream to play in the Olympics.

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First Published: Jul 22 2013 | 4:20 PM IST

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