SNOOKER IS ON a shortlist of three sports battling for inclusion on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics according to the president of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation.
Cue Sports made a formal submission in January to be included in the programme of sports for the Games. Organisers are expected to choose one new sport, with baseball, softball and squash among the other contenders.
Captain P. V. K. Mohan, president of the IBSF, the umbrella governing body for amateur snooker worldwide, says the chances of inclusion have now moved a step closer.
“For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, snooker is being considered seriously. The Games organisers had approached the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to send in an application to be included in the programme and it has been done. Snooker and two other sports have been shortlisted,” Mohan said.
“The Japan Olympic Association and WCBS (World Confederation of Billiards Sports) are pursuing it.”
A decision on which sport Japan organisers choose to be included is not expected until August 2016.