The match will take place on October 20, which has been named as World Squash Day.

WSF Chief Executive Andrew Shelley said: "This is a phenomenal milestone to reach, with almost a month to go before World Squash Day actually happens, and we can confidently expect that figure to rise significantly as more clubs join in this fantastic project.

"The list of clubs who signed up this week includes groups from Japan, Singapore, Finland, Liechtenstein, Brazil, Estonia, Russia, Malta, Belgium, Qatar, Uganda and the Cook Islands, plus St Vincent and The Grenadines, as well as all the bigger squash nations.

"This is truly representative of the global appetite for the game."

WSD founder Alan Thatcher added: "We quickly moved forward from 10,000 players to 15,000 and in a matter of days we could see we were getting close to 20,000. I wanted to witness that historic moment and stayed up half the night to see it happen!

"Kooyong Squash Club registered their event online just before 3am and the number of players they registered took the total number just beyond 20,020.

James Willstrop (in white) supports the bid to have squash included in the 2020 Olympics

"I Tweeted the news to the world, and went to bed a very happy man!

"The whole project has really brought the worldwide squash community together to support the bid.

"The 2020 Bid is supported by so many star players, including women's world champion Nicol David from Malaysia, and England's great rivals James Willstrop and Nick Matthew, ranked one and two in the world.

"They are lobbying to provide the opportunity for the generation of players who will be following them to take part in such a fantastic event while at the peak of their careers in 2020.

"Squash's presence in the Games would add a spectacular, gladiatorial event that the crowds would surely flock to."

Colin Cruickshank, the Kooyong event organiser, is planning major event at the club situated in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.

He said: "We are hoping to have players from 16 pennant teams taking part on the day."

Clubs can register to take part by clicking here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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