There is anger within the sport that it has been overlooked for Tokyo 2020, who added baseball and softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing to the Olympic programme. 

The decision was confirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its Session in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (August 3). 

Squash had originally been among the sports hoping to win a place at Tokyo 2020 - along with the sports eventually added and roller sports and wushu - but had been overlooked at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires in September 2013.

Then, the IOC decided to keep wrestling in, overturning a recommendation from the IOC Executive Board that it should be axed following Rio 2016.

But, following the adoption of Agenda 2020, Japanese organisers were allowed to nominate which sports they wanted included on the programme.

Squash, however, was overlooked. 

It was the third consecutive Olympics that squash's campaign had been unsuccessful following earlier bids for 2012 and 2016. 

"The Olympic Games should be the pinnacle of any athlete’s career and inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Games would have been a defining moment for squash and our athletes," said Gough.

"To know that dream has been taken away from our players once again is disappointing for all involved, but not unexpected."

Gough added: "We were naturally disappointed in 2013 when the IOC chose to re-instate wrestling during a period of time when squash appeared to be a front-runner for Olympic inclusion, but throughout the course of the last decade we have addressed all of the concerns the IOC have put forward and as a result the sport is in its strongest position ever.

“We have transitioned into a bourgeoning global sport that is now broadcast in almost 100 countries worldwide and have witnessed increases in player earnings by over 20 per cent so far in the past year alone.

“As a sport, squash is committed to driving forward equality, both in revenue earning potential and playing opportunities, across both sexes and the professional sport is now administered by one unified governing body across the men's and women's games.

"We have one of the cleanest drug records of any professional sport in the world and are a sport that is played in over 180 countries - boasting a truly global footprint while our players, who regularly cover over four kilometres per match, are amongst the fittest athletes in the world and we are a sport that can be enjoyed equally at beginner level and elite.

"Alongside that recent improvements in broadcast technology, video referee technology, glass court developments and more have taken the sport to a new dimension.

"These are all elements that everyone in the sport can feel truly proud of and we are buoyed by the strides we continue to take and we are committed to continuing that journey irrespective of the Olympic Games."