Squash lost out last year to golf and rugby sevens when International Olympic Committee (IOC) added two new sports to the programme for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

It was squash's second consecutive attempt to get into the Olympics, having narrowly failed four years earlier to make it into London 2012.

"I think it's just really unfortunate that squash, with so much potential it could offer to the Olympics, is not in there," David told Reuters in an interview.

"But we know that we have a good sport that can really be a big name in the Games."

David, who has been the world's top-ranked squash player since January 2006 and won four of the last five World Championships, was a leading figure in the sport's unsuccessful campaign.

"We will keep pushing and hopefully we'll get in there [in the Olympic programme] some day," said the Malaysian.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2009: Squash vows not to give up on Olympic dream
November 2009: Squash should keep trying to get in Olympics say IOC