"Plans are underway to re-launch the World Cup in 2020, one of our major assets that needs to be part of our portfolio of tournaments organised under the WSF umbrella,” said Fontaine.

The World Cup first took place in Malaysia in June 1996 and was held for a second time in The Netherlands in 1999.

It was briefly revived in Chennai, India, in 2011, when Egypt defeated England in an exciting final, with Ramy Ashour beating James Willstrop and Raneem El Welily overcoming Jenny Duncalf.

Since then the event has slipped off the calendar.

But there is a feeling within the WSF that this format - which features international teams of two men and one woman line-ups - can help to re-position the sport.

International team events are otherwise restricted to the World Team Championships - which are only biennial for each gender - and the regional events in Europe, Asia and Pan America, but not in Africa or Oceania.

"One of the key components to our future success is our strengthened relationship with the Professional Squash Association and this partnership was clear to see in the support they provided to our hugely-successful World Team Championship, the first to be held in the United States,” Fontaine added.

"After successful presentations of the sport in the Pan-American Games, the South Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games in 2019, the WSF will stage three major championships in 2020: the World Masters in Poland, the World Junior Championships in Australia and the Women's World Team Championship in Malaysia and we are confident this will foster the potential of our sport and greatly benefit our National Federations that host these events."

Fontaine also claimed the recent appointment of Wlliam Louis-Marie as WSF chief executive is testament to the governing body's ambition.

The former International Boxing Association executive director took up his role at the end of November and met the sport's leading players and delegates from National Federations around the world at the WSF Men's World Team Championship in Washington, D.C.

"The World Championship provided the perfect climax to 2019, not only attracting the world's top players but also many of the sport's leading officials - giving William Louis-Marie the perfect springboard to plan for 2020 and beyond," Fontaine said.

"I'm confident 2020 will be a rich and successful year for squash and I'm looking forward to closely cooperating with all our members for the betterment of our sport.

"In addition to strengthening our governance and independence with a clear focus on generating new revenues, we will be working to establish stronger relationships with major Continental and International sporting bodies to ensure the presence and exposure of squash the world over.

"After painstaking work with the Professional Squash Association, the launch of the WSO (World Squash Officiating) platform will definitely improve our officiating the world over and support our members locally.

"Our focus will remain on expanding our sport globally and ensuring an emphasis on coach and referee training to support a balanced development of our sport from grass roots to the elite level.

"Underlying our plans for 2020 will be the bid to establish stronger cooperation between all squash stakeholders, as squash will continue to address all challenges responsibly and professionally for the best interest of our sport."