Squash 'deserves Olympic place'

Why bother having tennis as an Olympic sport? Lee Beachill

The world's top squash player has called on the Olympic movement to introduce the sport at the 2012 Games.

England's Lee Beachill believes squash should take precedence over other sports such as tennis, which he accuses of failing to take the Games seriously.

And he says that with over 15m players in 150 countries, squash fulfils all the Olympic committee's criteria.

"No-one has ever given me a valid reason why squash isn't in the Games already," he told BBC Sport.

"If London wins the bid for 2012 and squash is included I think it will be only what the game deserves."

British Open Squash Live in Grandstand

Beachill claims the world's top tennis players do not place enough importance on the Olympic competition.

"It's quite obvious to all the public and everyone who watched the Olympics that the tennis players didn't try too hard," he said.

"Why bother having tennis as an Olympic sport when the players aren't treating the competition with respect?

"It's obviously not a major part of their season, and it was obvious that when the players lost out there they weren't too bothered.

Squash considered for Games

"There are a lot of other sports, and squash is one of them, which would love to have a place at the Games and would compete to the best of their ability."