Update: IOC Confirms Final Athlete Quotas for LA28 – Squash Draws Reduced to 16 Players Per Gender
On April 9th, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released the outcomes of its latest Executive Board meeting, confirming the official program for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28). The overall programme features 351 medal events—22 more than in Paris 2024—while maintaining a core athlete quota of 10,500.
Squash at LA28: From 32 to 16 Draws – A Major Shift
For squash, which is set to make its Olympic debut, this announcement brought a major change: the confirmed draw sizes are now just 16 players per gender , not the previously discussed 32. This adjustment is a significant setback for the sport’s global community, which had expected larger draws following the sport’s inclusion in LA28.
The reduced quotas place squash as one of the smallest standalone sports at LA28, matching trampolining and smaller than even BMX Freestyle (which is part of cycling).
What This Means Going Forward
This change will now force a rethink from the World Squash Federation (WSF) and Professional Squash Association (PSA) regarding the qualification process , especially considering how competitive the pathway will be with only 16 spots per gender.
Key implications include:
- More competitive ranking pressure : A limited number of places means only the highest-performing athletes will make the cut.
- Qualification programme adjustments : Original ideas involving a broader mix of rankings and regional qualification events will need to be re-evaluated.
- Continental representation : Ensuring fair and global access under such limited quotas will be a challenge.
Further announcements from World Squash and US Squash regarding the updated qualification roadmap are expected in the coming weeks.
Background
In September 2024, SFN reported that squash officials were working with the IOC on a 32-player singles format per gender. Yesterday's decision marks a U-turn that will have ripple effects across athlete preparation, event planning, and national federation strategies.
SFN will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as soon as more details are released.