KUALA LUMPUR: Squash legend Datuk Nicol David has stressed that planning and preparation must start now if Malaysia is to realistically challenge for gold in the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Road to Gold (RTG) programme committee member has been asked to work together with the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) to prepare Malaysian players for LA2028.
After years of campaigning, squash was finally accepted into the Olympic programme earlier this month and will make its debut at LA2028.
"It has finally gone in, sometimes you forget how long it took to get here," said Nicol when met in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
"Our players are looking good after the Hangzhou Asian Games, and we have good depth with a number of young players coming up the ranks.
"Our players have time to prepare but planning has to start from now.
"At the moment, we are sitting down with SRAM and other stakeholders and setting the steps (to be taken) for each phase and determining what we should be working towards each year leading up to 2028.
"There are a lot of aspects to be considered and nothing is set yet, we are still in discussion."
Nicol anticipates that newly crowned Asian Games gold medallists Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari will be at their peak age during LA2028.
Eain Yow will be 30 while Sivasangari will be 29 in 2028.
"For squash players between 28 to 32 is a good time for them to peak," added Nicol.
"In principle, it takes about five to eight years for a squash player to gain enough experience and achieve a peak performance."
Younger player such as sisters Aifa and Aira Azman as well as Ameeshenraj Chandaran and Hafiz Zhafri Harif could also feature in LA as well.