The PSA has announced a long-term partnership with DAZN, a new live sports streaming service ©PSA

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) has announced a long-term partnership with DAZN, a new live sports streaming service, that it is claimed will "transform squash's visibility and profile across Japan".

Under the five-year agreement, which was reached in partnership with Broadreach Media, DAZN will now become the focal point of the sport's coverage in Japan.

The agreement, which is in effect as of October 2016, means squash fans in Japan will now have access to major tournaments such as the PSA World Championships, the Tournament of Champions and the British Open.

Furthermore, they will also be able to watch the race to qualify for a top eight place on the PSA Road To Dubai standings and the season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals.

"Having previously worked with the PSA to deliver global coverage of live squash we have first-hand experience of the dynamism and excitement that squash delivers," said John Gleasure, DAZN's chief commercial officer.

"We want to enable fans to be able to watch the sports they love and also explore sports they may never have considered watching before.

"We are very excited to have reached an agreement that will take squash to a new audience and a new market, and we look forward to working closely with the PSA to aid their vision to grow the sport around the world."

This follows the PSA's announcement that 450 matches from 20 tournaments will be broadcast on SQUASHTV and Eurosport Player during the 2016/2017 season.

The agreement means squash fans in Japan will have access to major tournaments such as the PSA World Championships, Tournament of Champions and the British Open ©PSA
The agreement means squash fans in Japan will have access to major tournaments such as the PSA World Championships, Tournament of Champions and the British Open ©PSA

The Hong Kong Open was the first tournament of the season to be screened on SQUASHTV, while the governing body confirmed a further nine competitions will also be shown on the platform.

"We are delighted to have reached an agreement with DAZN and feel certain that this is the beginning of a partnership that will be of great benefit to squash fans in the region," said PSA chief executive Alex Gough.

"Japan, and Asia in general, is an untapped market for the game and our agreement with DAZN will open up the sport to an entirely new audience in what is a significant move for squash.

"The DAZN agreement is the next stage in our long term digital strategy, following our partnership with Eurosport Digital Player in Europe, and is in addition to PSA's own SQUASHTV digital service.

"Squash is reaching more homes, more fans and more potential new participants than ever before, helping us to make squash one of the most accessible sports in the world."

The PSA have also recently signed a deal with Eleven Sports Network, which will see the sport broadcast in both Singapore and Taiwan.