Squash will go head to head with wrestling and a combined baseball and softball bid for the one extra 2020 Olympic slot ahead of a final presentation and vote here on Sunday (September 8.)

Egyptian Ashour, who has already won four Professional Squash Association (PSA) world tour events in 2013, is aiming to translate a winning mentality from the court to the conference room ahead of what he said feels like the biggest match of his career.

"I guess we are an underdog but you know what they say, 'Train like an underdog and compete like a champion'," he said.

"I wouldn't say squash is as big a sport worldwide as maybe wrestling but it has so much to offer inside the Games, and if given the chance we will show that.

"It's gladiatorial, physically demanding and mentally challenging and reflects the true essence of Olympic sport.

"We're here to do our best and to win."

World number one Egyptian Ramy Ashour has been in sensational form in 2013 and will bring a winning mentality to the 2020 campaign


World Squash Federation (WSF) President Narayana Ramachandran appeared alongside Ashour and described Sunday as the culmination of "a ten year campaign to join the programme" as he reinforced its foremost credentials

Squash can offer something exciting and fresh to the Olympic experience and is "proud" to be the only shortlisted sport which has never previously appeared, he claimed.

Ramachandran also claimed squash was genuinely global game, played in 185 countries by many millions across the world, and the presence of Peruvian teenager Diego Elias alongside him was a good indicator of this

The teenaged Elias is the Junior Pan American champion, and will be 23 in 2020 and therefore an ideal age to win squash's first medals should it be included.

Diego Elias of Peru [pictured diving] is a strong hope for the future and for 2020 success should squash be added to the programme


Other steps taken by squash to improve these chances of success were outlined by another of the game's biggest stars in the former five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald of Australia

"Our sport has been on a journey of innovation in recent years, especially in the way it is broadcast and presented," she said.

"State of the art all- glass courts, referee video review, lighting and music have radically enhanced the spectator experience."

"We also embrace gender parity and many of our key events have equality in prize money for men and women.