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XVIII
Commonwealth Games
Melbourne, Australia, 16-26 March
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John Murray Reports from Melbourne
The story of the Commonwealth Games
squash championships was one of crushing wins and shock upsets. It was a
story about marathon games, played in front of packed crowds. It was a story
about classic clashes between old foes England and Australia. And, above
all, it was a story – no, let’s make that a fairytale – about Peter
Nicol.
The
veteran Englishman crowned a memorable five days of competition when he beat
top seed David Palmer 9-5, 10-8, 4-9, 9-2 to win his second Commonwealth
Games singles gold.
Upon
winning the point that sealed gold, Nicol sunk to his knees on the Show
Court at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, then thumped his fists
against the glass in utter jubilation. Finally, he clutched his head for
several moments scarcely able to believe what he had achieved.
The
final had been billed as the wily old-timer Nicol against man of the moment
Palmer.
But this being the Commonwealth Games, it wasn’t simply a case of one
opponent against another. This was the might of the old empire against the
best the home nation had to offer.
This
was the white shirt of Nicol against the green shorts and gold top of
Palmer. England v Australia yet again in the squash – and for the umpteenth
time in the Games as a whole.
From
the first point, Nicol tore around the court, just like the player who
powered to gold eight years ago, often staying in rallies he had no right to
win. And his efforts were rewarded on the scoreboard when he took the first
two games.
Palmer
responded by winning the third, but Nicol would not be denied. With each
point won, Nicol bellowed “C’mon”, clenching his fists as he goaded himself
to victory.
3-1
became 4-1; 5-2 became 6-2. And, soon after, it was 9-2. Game over. Gold
medal won.
“It
meant everything to me,” Nicol revealed immediately after the match.
“It was
one of the last tournaments I’m ever going to play in, and certainly the
biggest one I’m going to play in at the end of my career.
“I was
very, very tired going into that fourth game, but I think I played the best
game of my career.”
Things
had started smoothly for the eight-strong English singles contingent when
competition got under way on the first day of the Games. All eight English
players progressed to the last 16. And even better, none of them
relinquished a game. Nicol eased through against South African Rodney
Durbach, while Lee Beachill was arguably the pick of the bunch in crushing
another South African, Craig Van Der Wath.
Jenny
Duncalf was the first English casualty in the next round. She suffered a
surprising loss to Shelley Kitchen – more on her later.
The remaining seven English stars
safely advanced to the quarter-finals. Nicol was rarely troubled in a 9-2,
9-2, 9-0 demolition job of Canadian Matthew Giuffre. Elsewhere Tania Bailey
eased past Australian Amelia Pittock. England 1 Australia 0, if you like.
The
competition really fired up in the quarter-finals. Never more so than in the
clash between doubles partners James Willstrop and Nick Matthew.
Trailing 8-2 in a must-win fourth game, British National champion Matthew
somehow staved off six match balls, then fought back to take the match into
a deciding game before eventually prevailing 9-3, 3-9, 8-10, 10-8, 9-5.
By
contrast, Matthew’s semi-final opponent Nicol enjoyed a far easier path into
the last four, eliminating Canadian Graham Ryding in three games. And Lee
Beachill ensured England fielded three of the four semi-finalists after a
convincing defeat of Australia’s Stewart Boswell.
Unfortunately, it was a different story in the women’s quarter-finals, where
England’s three surviving representatives all crashed out at the
quarter-final stage. New Zealander Kitchen claimed another major scalp when
she eliminated an out-of-sorts Vicky Botwright, while Bailey and Linda
Elriani bowed out to top-seeded duo Nicol David and Rachael Grinham.
In the
end, Grinham had to settle for silver after losing to her sister Natalie,
while Kitchen pulled off her third shock in five days to snatch bronze at
David’s expense.
With
four men left standing, Matthew looked poised to spring another surprise
when he took the first game off Nicol, but the veteran was not to be denied
a final tilt at gold.
In the
other semi-final, David Palmer scuppered Beachill’s bid to make it an
all-England final. To his credit, Beachill returned the following day to win
gold against Matthew.
But
that was merely a supporting act to Nicol’s memorable swansong to a glorious
career.
Shock Win for Nick Matthew
Nick Matthew of England has created an upset,
defeating compatriot and No.2 seed James Willstrop in a 5 game thriller.
Matthew began the match strongly, breaking away to win the first game 9-3.
Willstrop hit back in the second to level the game score, also winning the
game 9-3. With both players at level pegging, the English pair started the
third game at a furious pace.
Willstrop managed to get
out to an 8-6 lead, but Matthew dug in to level the score at 8-8. Using
great control, Willstrop claimed the game with a drop-volley winner to take
a 2-1 lead. Using the momentum he gained by winning the third game,
Willstrop quickly moved to an 8-3 lead, giving him his first match-ball.
Matthew never lost heart
and played on, seemingly finding a new reserve of energy. Willstrop had a
total of 6 match-balls, but was unable to find the winning shot he needed to
close out the match. He showed excellent sportsmanship in calling his own
shot out at a crucial stage. Matthew pressed on, converting his first
game-ball to level the match to a deciding fifth game.
With a semi final place to
play for, neither player gave an inch, working each other mercilessly around
all four corners of the court. Trading point for point early in the game,
Matthew broke away to claim the final game, the match and a place in the
Semi Finals 9-5.
Matthew meets English team
mate, Peter Nicol in another all English clash in the Semi Final. Nicol
defeated Canada’s Graham Ryding in the Men's Squash Singles Quarter Final
9-5 9-1 9-3.
Seven of England’s singles players
through to the quarter finals
Team England just missed out on a clean sweep on the squash courts
today as all four men and three of England’s women went through to the
quarter-finals in the singles event.
In the men’s singles, England’s Peter Nicol (London), who won gold in Kuala
Lumpur and silver in Manchester, beat Canada’s Matthew Giuffre 9-2, 9-2,
9-0. Nick Matthew (Sheffield) beat Ong Beng Hee of Malaysia 9-4, 9-2, 9-7.
Also in the men’s singles, James Willstrop (Pontefract) beat Gavin Jones of
Wales 9-4, 9-2, 9-7, and Lee Beachill (Pontefract) beat Alex Gough of Wales
9-1, 9-0, 9-1.
Commenting on his win, Lee Beachill said: “This is the only competition
where they use the old scoring system, so some of the score lines here are a
bit misleading .
“I felt on top throughout the match and didn’t give him a chance to play his
game. I was injured at the end of last year and lost to him just before
Christmas. However, I have done a lot of work since then, and I feel that I
am getting back to normal.
“I am playing and moving well, and when I do those things right I am pretty
tough to beat”, he added.
This is the first time that all four English men have made it through to the
quarter-finals of a Commonwealth Games. If the run of wins continues Pete
Nicol and James Willstrop could meet in the semi-finals.
In the women’s singles Tania Bailey (Stamford) beat Australia’s Amelia
Pittock 9-2, 9-2. 9-1, Vicky Botwright (Swinton) beat Tenille Swartz of
South Africa 9-4, 9-7, 9-7, and Linda Elriani (Eastbourne) beat Tegwen Malik
of Wales 9-6, 10-8, 9-3.
Jenny Duncalf (Harrogate) was England’s only loss on the squash courts
losing to Shelley Kitchen of New Zealand, 6-9, 9-4, 6-9, 1-9.
England Players Storm Into Last Sixteen In Melbourne
All
eight of the England players competing in the squash singles in the 2006
Commonwealth Games in Melbourne
comfortably secured places in the last sixteen in today's
(Thursday) first day of action at the Melbourne
Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Fourth-seeded Londoner Peter
Nicol, the 1998 singles champion who is in his
third successive appearance in the Games, confidently brushed aside South
African Rodney Durbach 9-5, 9-1, 9-1 in 29 minutes to set up a
surprise third round match with Matthew Giuffre, an unseeded Canadian
who knocked out Pakistan's 11th seed Shahid Zaman.
British National champion Nick Matthew,
the No7 seed from Sheffield, defeated Zambian Chiluba Chilufya 9-2,
9-1, 9-2 in 29 minutes and will now take on Malaysia's ninth seed Ong
Beng Hee.
Fellow Yorkshireman Lee Beachill,
the fifth seed from Pontefract, despatched South African veteran Craig
van der Wath 9-1, 9-2, 9-1 in 28 minutes. The former world No1 will now
meet Welshman Alex Gough, the 13th seed who earned his
place in the last sixteen when his Bermudan opponent James Stout
retired injured midway through their third game.
But the Englishman who had the easiest
ride on day one was No2 seed James Willstrop. The 22-year-old from
Pontefract, who is making his debut in the Games, didn't even need to get
his racket out of the bag as Scottish opponent Harry Leitch conceded
a walkover after sustaining an injury in his earlier first round match.
In the women's event, Lincolnshire's
Tania Bailey, from Stamford, convincingly beat Diana Argyle of
South Africa 9–3, 9–1, 9-0.
Commenting on her victory, eighth seed
Bailey said: “I don’t think I have ever played this early in the tournament
before but it was nice to get the first match out of the way. My
preparation has gone really well.
“I had not played the South African before
so she was a bit of an unknown to me,” she added. “It took me a few points
to get used to her style of play as she played better than I expected.”
Team England’s players dominated all their
matches. Jenny Duncalf, the fifth seed from Harrogate in Yorkshire,
beat Scotland’s Louise Philip 9–2, 9-3, 9-0.
Manchester's Vicky Botwright, the
No4 seed, beat Sharon Chimfwembe of Zambia 9–0, 9–0, 9–3, while sixth
seed Linda Elriani, from Eastbourne, beat Jamaica’s Karen Anderson
9–4, 9–1, 9–2.
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SQUASH ON BBC
Previews
Nicol Ready For 'Most Important Event In Calendar'
Beachill & Nicol In Unique Games Title Defence Bid
Hat-Trick For Hosts Predicted By Commonwealth Games Squash Doubles Seedings
Australia & Malaysia
Seeded To Win Squash Singles Gold In Melbourne
Team England’s squash men get first round byes
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Men's Draw
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Round One
Thu 16th |
R 2
Thu 16 |
R3
Fri 17 |
Quarters
Sat 18 |
Semis
Sun 19 |
Final
Mon 20 |
[1]
David
Palmer (AUS)
bye
David Evans (WAL) bt Hardeep Reel (KEN)
9-7, 9-5, 9-2 (33m) |
David Palmer
9-2, 9-4, 9-6 (33m) |
David Palmer
9-2, 9-4, 9-6 (66m)
Shahier Razik
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David Palmer
2-9, 10-8, 9-6, 9-0 (79m)
John White |
David Palmer
9-0, 9-4, 9-4 (59m)
Lee Beachill |
David Palmer
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[14]
Shahier Razik (CAN) bt Yasir Issadeen (SRI) 9-3, 9-0, 9-3 (22m)
Chris Simpson (GUE) bt Navin Samarasinghe (SRI)
9-0, 9-4, 9-0 (24m) |
Shahier Razik
9-3, 2-9, 9-3, 9-6 (54m) |
[6]
John
White (SCO)
bye
Nick Kyme (BER) bt Chikumbutso Mkutumula (MAW) 9-0, 9-2, 9-1 (25m) |
John White
9-7, 9-1, 9-1 (24m) |
John White
9-6, 9-0, 9-2 (28m)
Joseph Kneipp |
[16]
Joseph
Kneipp (AUS) bt Joseph Chapman (BVI)
9-0, 9-0, 9-1 (20m)
Joseph Desira (MLT) bt Shawn Badrinath (GUY) 9-3, 9-4, 9-6 (34m)
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Joseph Kneipp
9-4, 9-1, 9-1 (20m) |
[3] Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
bye
Colin Ramasra (TRI) bt
Maxim Weithers (GUY)
10-8, 9-4, 9-2 (32m) |
Anthony Ricketts
9-0, 9-0, 9-1(21m) |
Anthony Ricketts
10-8, 9-2, 9-7 (68m)
Stewart Boswell |
Stewart Boswell
9-4, 9-3, 9-3
(74m)
Lee Beachill |
[10]
Stewart
Boswell (AUS)
bye
Steve Richardson (IRL) bt Joshua Pinard (TRI) 9-2, 9-1, 9-1 (31m) |
Stewart Boswell
9-4, 9-0, 9-4 (42m) |
[5] Lee Beachill (ENG)
bye
Craig van der Wath (RSA) bt Nadeem Hosenbux (MRI) 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 (22m) |
Lee Beachill
9-1, 9-2, 9-1 (30m) |
Lee Beachill
9-1, 9-0, 9-1 (42m)
Alex Gough |
[13]
Alex
Gough (WAL) bt Colin Alexander (SVG) 9-1, 9-0, 9-2 (23m)
James Stout (BER) bt Joseph Karigithe (KEN) 9-2, 9-0, 9-0 (21m) |
Alex Gough
9-4, 9-1, 1-7 Rtd (19m)
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Clinton
Leeuw (RSA) bt Jeffery Broderick (CAY) 9-1, 9-1, 9-0 (21m)
[12] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt Karl Nassief (DMN) 9-3, 9-1, 9-0 (19m)
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Graham Ryding
9-1, 9-6, 9-0 (38m)
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Graham Ryding
9-10, 9-1, 9-0, 9-5 (59m)
Azlan Iskandar
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Graham Ryding
9-5, 9-1, 9-3
(48m)
Peter Nicol |
Peter Nicol
3-9, 9-5, 9-4, 9-5 (85m)
Nick Matthew |
9-5, 10-8, 4-9, 9-2 (103M)
Peter Nicol |
Christopher
Binnie (JAM) bt Leonard Bedneau (DMN) 9-0, 9-2, 9-3 (20m)
[8] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS)
bye
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Azlan Iskandar
9-0, 9-1, 9-1 (21m) |
Matthew
Giuffre (CAN) bt Andrew McGoon (FIJ) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 (14m)
[11] Shahid Zaman (PAK)
bye
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Matthew Giuffre
9-4, 10-8, 10-9 (45m) |
Matthew Giuffre
9-2, 9-2, 9-0 (30m)
Peter Nicol
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Rodney
Durbach (RSA) bt Chirag Shah (KEN) 9-0, 9-7, 9-2 (21m)
[4] Peter Nicol (ENG)
bye
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Peter Nicol
9-5, 9-1, 9-1 (32m) |
Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Sonalmeet Nagra (FIJ)
9-1, 9-0 ...
[9] Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
bye
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Ong Beng Hee
9-3, 9-1, 9-2 (30m) |
Ong Beng Hee
9-4, 9-2, 9-7 (65m)
Nick Matthew
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Nick Matthew
9-3, 3-9, 8-10, 10-8, 9-5 (83m)
James Willstrop |
Lazarus
Chilufya (ZAM) bt Aubrey Taulo (MAW)
9-0, 9-0, 9-4 (19m)
[7] Nick Matthew (ENG)
bye |
Nick Matthew
9-2, 9-1, 9-2 (32m) |
Hartaj Bains (KEN) bt O'Neil Chilambwe (ZAM)
9-6, 9-2, 9-6 (33m)
Gavin Jones (WAL) bt
[15] Mansoor Zaman (PAK)
9-7, 9-6, 5-9, 2-9, 9-6 (72m) |
Gavin Jones
9-3, 9-3, 9-4 (39m) |
Gavin Jones
9-0, 9-7, 9-1 (37m)
James Willstrop |
Harry Leitch
(SCO) bt James Bentick (SVG)
9-5, 9-3, 9-5 (26m)
[2] James Willstrop (ENG)
bye |
James Willstrop
W-O |
WOMEN'S DRAW
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Round One
Thu 16th |
Round Two
Fri 17th |
Quarters
Sat 18th |
Semis
Sun 19th |
Final
Mon 20th |
[1] Nicol David (MAS)
bye
[13] Runa Reta (CAN) bt Eli Webb (PNG)
9-1,
9-1, 9-2 (20m) |
Nicol David
9-0, 9-0, 9-3 (23m)
Runa Reta |
Nicol David
9-6, 10-9, 9-3 (45m)
Tania Bailey |
Nicol David
9-10, 9-7, 4-9,
9-6, 9-3 (87m)
Natalie Grinham |
Natalie Grinham
2-9, 9-6, 9-1, 9,6 (44m)
Rachael Grinham
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[8]
Tania
Bailey (ENG) bt Diana Argyle (RSA)
9-3, 9-1, 9-0
(20m)
[12] Amelia Pittock (AUS) bt Marlene West (JAM) 9-1,
9-0, 9-1 (22m) |
Tania Bailey
9-2, 9-2, 9-1 (23m)
Amelia Pittock |
[3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt Chantelle Day (CAY) 9-0,
9-0, 9-1 (14m)
[16] Tricia Chuah (MAS) bt Vanessa Florens (MRI) 9-3,
9-0, 9-5 (20m) |
Natalie Grinham
7-9, 9-5, 9-3, 9-0 (43m)
Tricia Chuah |
Natalie Grinham
9-1, 9-7, 4-9, 9-3 (58m)
Madeline Perry |
[7] Madeline
Perry (NIR) bt Tehani Guruge (SRI)
9-1, 9-0, 9-0
(20m)
[10] Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 4-9, 9-6,
7-9, 9-6, 9-2 (62m) |
Madeline Perry
6-9, 9-3, 9-6, 6-9, 9-5 (76m)
Sharon Wee |
[9] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt Naluge Guy (PNG)
9-2, 9-1, 9-0
(17m)
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Louise Philip (SCO)
9-2, 9-3, 9-0
(21m) |
Shelley Kitchen
9-6, 4-9, 9-6, 9-1 (60m)
Jenny Duncalf |
Shelley Kitchen
10-8, 9-5, 9-1 (43m)
Vicky Botwright |
Shelley Kitchen
10-8, 9-4, 9-2
(41m)
Rachael Grinham |
Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt [14] Tamsyn
Leevey (NZL) 9-5, 9-6, 9-4
(25m)
[4] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Sharon Chimfwembe (ZAM) 9-0, 9-1,
9-3(14m) |
Tenille Swartz
9-4, 9-7, 9-7 (46m)
Vicky Botwright |
[11] Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt Nirasha Guruge
(SRI)9-3, 9-0, 9-0 (18m)
[6] Linda Elriani (ENG) bt Karen Anderson (JAM)
9-4, 9-1, 9-2 (18m) |
Tegwen Malik
9-6, 10-8, 9-3 (41m)
Linda Elriani |
Linda Elriani
1-9, 9-5, 9-5, 9-3 (44m)
Rachael Grinham |
[15]
Kasey
Brown (AUS) bt Frania Gillen-Buchert (SCO)
9-3, 9-0, 9-4 (24m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
bye |
Kasey Brown
9-3, 9-1, 9-2 (36m)
Rachael Grinham |
Pool line-ups – Men:
Pool 1: [1] Stewart
Boswell & Anthony Ricketts (AUS); [12] Shawn Badrinath & Maxim Weithers
(GUY); Hartaj Bains & Hardeep Reel (KEN)
Pool 2: [2] Lee
Beachill & Peter Nicol (ENG); [11] Nicholas Kyme & James Stout (BER); O’Neil
Chilambwe & Lazarus Chilufya (ZAM); Duncan Gray & Gye Duncan (NFI)
Pool 3: [3] Joseph
Kneipp & David Palmer (AUS); [10] Aamir Atlas Khan & Khayal Muhammad Khan
(PAK); Yassir Issadeen & Navin Samarasinghe (SRI)
Pool 4: [4] Nick
Matthew & James Willstrop (ENG); [9] Shawn Delierre & Matthew Giuffre (CAN);
Joseph Karigithe & Chirag Shah (KEN)
Pool 5: [5] Campbell
Grayson & Martin Knight (NZL); [8] Harry Leitch & John White (SCO); Joshua
Pinard & Colin Ramasra (TRI); Peter Christian-Bailey & Steve Nobbs (NFI)
Pool 6: [6] David
Evans & Alex Gough (WAL); [7] Rodney Durbach & Adrian Hansen (RSA); Andrew
McGoon & Sonalmeet Nagra (FIJ); Chikumbutso Mkutumula & Aubrey Taulo (MAW)
Women:
Pool 1: [1] Natalie
Grinham & Rachael Grinham (AUS); [4] Louise Crome & Lara Petera (NZL); [5]
Jenny Duncalf & Alison Waters (ENG); Karen Anderson & Marlene West (JAM);
Naluge Guy & Eli Webb (PNG)
Pool 2: [2] Shelley
Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey (NZL); [3] Tania Bailey & Vicky Botwright (ENG); [6]
Dianne Desira & Amelia Pittock (AUS); Frania Gillen-Buchert & Louise Philip
(SCO); Nirasha Guruge & Tehani Guruge (SRI)
Mixed:
Pool 1: [1] Rachael
Grinham & David Palmer (AUS); [12] Tenille Swartz & Clinton Leeuw (RSA);
Nirasha Guruge & Navin Samarasinghe (SRI)
Pool 2: [2] Shelley
Kitchen & Glen Wilson (NZL); [11] Runa Reta & Matthew Giuffre (CAN); Tehani
Guruge & Yassir Issadeen (SRI)
Pool 3: [3] Natalie
Grinham & Dan Jenson (AUS); [10] Madeline Perry & Steve Richardson (NIR);
Chantelle Day & Jeffrey Broderick (CAY); Debby Adams & Gye Duncan (NFI)
Pool 4: [4] Vicky
Botwright & James Willstrop (ENG); [9] Tegwen Malik & Gavin Jones (WAL);
Marlene West & Christopher Binnie (JAM)
Pool 5: [5] Nicol
David & Ong Beng Hee (MAS); [8] Diana Argyle & Craig van der Wath (RSA);
Nicolette Fernandes & Shawn Badrinath (GUY); Becky Nobbs & Duncan Gray (NFI)
Pool 6: [6] Lara
Petera & Callum O’Brien (NZL); [7] Alison Waters & Adrian Grant (ENG);
Sharon Chimfwembe & Lazarus Chilufya (ZAM); Vanessa Florens & Nadeem
Hosenbux (MRI)
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Nicol Ready For 'Most Important Event In Calendar'
On the
eve of leading England's squash team in the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne, twice gold medallist Peter Nicol
announced that the squad is in great spirits
and "ready to start".
With more than 50 major international
titles to his name, including Commonwealth Games singles gold in Kuala
Lumpur in 1998 and doubles gold in Manchester four years ago – and 60 months
at the top of the world rankings – one might assume that Peter Nicol has
achieved all that he wants to in squash.
But the 32-year-old from London has been
focussed on gold in Melbourne for the past year. "I'm proud of my two gold
medals from previous events – but I am determined to get another one in what
will certainly be my last Commonwealth Games appearance," explained the
former world champion in Melbourne.
When asked what the Commonwealth Games
means to him, Nicol was quick to respond: "It's huge. For me, it's the
most important thing on the calendar. It’s the biggest multi-sport event
squash is in – and competing in it is like nothing else in the world. It
doesn't compare to anything else.
"There's a great team spirit in the squad
– we all know each other well and help each other out. And we're all ready
to start now."
With a bye in the first round on the first
day of action tomorrow (Thursday), fourth seed Nicol is likely to face South
Africa's Rodney Durbach for a place in the last sixteen.
"Rodney will be a tough first opponent -
but I'm feeling in good form and, having been in Melbourne for more than a
week now, I just can't wait to get the first match underway," said the
left-hander.
If things go according to the seedings,
Nicol would meet England team-mate James Willstrop, the 22-year-old
No2 seed from Yorkshire, for a place in his third successive singles final.
The former Scot has admitted recently
that, whilst he won't now retire immediately after the 2006 Games, he is
unlikely to play on the international PSA Tour beyond the end of this year.
"I'm not going to be playing for much
longer after this, so I'm going to enjoy every minute of competing here in
Melbourne," concluded Nicol.
With two medals in both previous Games, in
Malaysia and England, Nicol is keen to bring his total up to six before
hanging up his rackets. He partners Yorkshireman Lee Beachill in the
men's doubles in a bid to become the only pair to successfully defend their
gold medal won in Manchester.
Seeded two, Beachill and Nicol are expected to face top seeds Stewart
Boswell & Anthony Ricketts, the Australians they beat in the 2002 final,
in the Melbourne final on Sunday 16 March at the
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Beachill &
Nicol In Unique Games Title Defence Bid
England's Lee Beachill
and Peter
Nicol are bidding
to become the only squash players to successfully defend their titles at the
2006 Commonwealth Games next week in Melbourne, Australia.
The former world number
ones, from Pontefract and London, respectively, paired up for the first time
four years ago and struck gold at the 2002 Games in Manchester. The
pair has been seeded to reach the 2006 final, where they are expected to
meet Australian favourites Stewart Boswell & Anthony Ricketts, whom
they beat in the Manchester final.
Following the
singles events, the three doubles events (men, women and mixed) take place
at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) from 22-26 March.
Nicol, whose doubles gold
medal in 2002 followed the singles gold he won in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, is
the only man to have won two medals in each of the previous two games
(including doubles bronze in 1998 and singles silver four years later).
The 32-year-old Londoner is expected to continue his twin-medal run in
Melbourne.
Also seeded in the men's
doubles are Yorkshiremen Nick Matthew & James Willstrop.
Seeded four, the pair are making their Games debuts. Willstrop, the
22-year-old world No5 from Pontefract, is seeded to win silver in the men's
singles event – and is drawn to meet his doubles partner, the 25-year-old
British champion from Sheffield, in the quarter-finals!
Willstrop partners world No5
Vicky Botwright, from Manchester, in the mixed doubles. Seeded
four, the pair are joined in the event by seventh-seeded Londoners Alison
Waters and
Adrian Grant,
ranked 12 and 16, respectively, in the world.
Alison
Waters, at 21 the youngest member of the England squash squad, teams up with
Yorkshire's Jenny Duncalf, ranked 7 in the world, in the women's
doubles. The pair is seeded five, and will need to qualify in Pool 1
alongside Australian favourites Natalie Grinham and Rachael
Grinham.
England's other interest in
the women's doubles will be provided by third seeds Tania Bailey & Vicky
Botwright. A silver medallist in 2002 (with the now retired
Cassie Jackman), Bailey – from Stamford in Lincolnshire – will be hoping
to partner Botwright to success in Pool 2 to boost their chances of a place
in the final.
Hat-Trick For Hosts Predicted By Commonwealth Games Squash Doubles Seedings
Hosts Australia
are expected to make a clean sweep of the Squash Doubles gold medals in
the Commonwealth Games later this month in Melbourne,
according to the seedings announced today (Friday) by the World Squash
Federation (WSF).
The doubles, which
will follow the singles events at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
(MSAC), will get underway on 22 March, with early Pool matches being
followed by the knockout stage from Friday 24th through to the
finals on Sunday 26th.
Squash in the
Commonwealth Games boasts a world-class entry list featuring 14 of the top
20 men in the world and all but two of the women's top ten.
"The sport will be
represented by an all-time record of 28 nations and 91 athletes," commented
WSF Chief Executive
Christian Leighton.
"Alongside the established squash nations, it is excellent to see countries
like the Norfolk Islands competing for the first time in the doubles events
in Melbourne."
Stewart Boswell &
Anthony Ricketts,
from Canberra and Sydney, respectively, are top seeds in the men's doubles,
ahead of English title-holders Lee Beachill &
Peter Nicol.
Boswell & Ricketts, ranked 17 and 6, respectively, in the world, won the
WSF World Doubles Championship title at the Games venue in Melbourne in
January.
The Australian
favourites head Pool 1, where they will be joined by 12th seeds
Shawn Badrinath & Maxim Weithers (Guyana) and Kenyan pair Hartaj
Bains & Hardeep Reel.
Beachill & Nicol,
who beat the Australian pair in the 2002 final in Manchester and are
currently ranked 8 & 7, respectively, lead the line-up in Pool 2 - where
they will face Nicholas Kyme & James Stout (the 11th seeds
from Bermuda), O’Neil Chilambwe & Lazarus Chilufya (Zambia) and
Duncan Gray & Gye Duncan (Norfolk Islands).
Queensland sisters
Natalie Grinham & Rachael Grinham are favourites in the women's
doubles event. The 'Toowoomba twosome', ranked 4 & 3, respectively, in the
world, are expected to meet New Zealand's second seeds Shelley Kitchen &
Tamsyn Leevey, the reigning world doubles champions, in the final.
Double gold is
predicted for Rachael Grinham, who teams up with David Palmer
in the mixed doubles. The favourites are expected to face No2 seeds
Shelley Kitchen & Glen Wilson in the final. Wilson won the 2002 gold
medal with the now retired Leilani Rorani.
Australia & Malaysia
Seeded To Win Squash Singles Gold In Melbourne
Australia's David Palmer
and Nicol David of Malaysia are seeded to win gold for the first
time in the squash singles events in next week's Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne, according to the draws announced today (Wednesday) by the
World Squash Federation (WSF).
The sport's Commonwealth
Games action will be staged on a new purpose-built all-glass show court at
the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) where players will
challenge for five gold medals in both singles (men and women) and doubles
(men, women and mixed) events across 11 days of competition.
The singles events get
underway on Thursday 16 March, leading to the two finals on Monday 20th,
followed by the doubles events which reach their climax on Sunday 26 March.
"Squash will be represented
by an all-time record of 28 nations and 91 athletes in Melbourne 2006,"
commented WSF Chief Executive
Christian Leighton.
"This includes our two newest members: Mauritius and the British Virgin
Islands. This growth underscores the health of the sport as well as our
commitment to the Commonwealth Games and the values and endeavours of the
Commonwealth Games Federation."
Mauritius
and
British Virgin Islands
join a number of
new nations
making their Games debuts this year – including
Malawi,
Malta,
St Vincent & the Grenadines,
Cayman
Islands,
Dominica,
Fiji
and
Norfolk
Island.
David Palmer, a bronze
medallist in the 2002 Games in Manchester, returned to the top of the world
rankings last month after a four–year gap. The 29-year-old from Lithgow in
New South Wales, a former World Open champion and three-times British Open
champion, is expected to meet England's No2 seed James Willstrop in
the men's final.
Willstrop, the 22-year-old
England No1 from Pontefract in Yorkshire making his debut in the event, led
England to success in last year's World Team Championships in Pakistan after
reaching No2 in the world in December.
Peter Nicol,
the former world No1 who won singles gold for Scotland in Malaysia in 1998,
and doubles gold for England four years later, is seeded four in Melbourne
behind Australia's third seed Anthony Ricketts. Nicol, the only man
to win two medals in both previous Commonwealth Games, is expected to meet
Willstrop in an all-English semi-final, while Palmer and Ricketts are due to
face each other in the other all-Australian battle.
A new champion is assured in
the women's event in which Nicol David, a mixed doubles silver medallist in
Manchester, is expected to face Australian rival Rachael Grinham, who
won silver in the 2002 women's doubles and bronze in the singles, in the
final.
Nicol David has become one
of her country's most successful sports stars of all-time after following
her maiden triumph in last year's World Open by becoming world number one.
The 22-year-old from Penang is expected to meet Rachael's younger sister
Natalie Grinham, the third seed, in the semi-finals.
Victory by Queenslander
Rachael Grinham would keep the women's title in Australian hands after
triumphs by Michelle Martin in 1998 and Sarah Fitz-Gerald in
2002. The 29-year-old from Toowoomba is expected to meet England's fourth
seed Vicky Botwright, a Games debutante, in the other women's
semi-final.
Team England’s squash men get first round byes
Team England squash players Pete Nicol and James Willstrop could meet in the
semi-finals of the men’s singles competition at the Melbourne 2006
Commonwealth Games if the seedings go to plan.
Willstrop (Pontefract, West Yorkshire), the 22-year-old English number one
playing in his first Commonwealth Games, is seeded two for the tournament
behind Australia’s David Palmer. Pete Nicol (London) is seeded four for the
men’s singles.
Both Nicol and Willstrop have received byes in the first round draw, as have
England’s other male singles players, Lee Beachill (Pontefract, West
Yorkshire) and Nick Matthew (Sheffield), seeded five and seven respectively.
England’s women players don’t have the luxury of byes in their opening round
in Melbourne. Tania Bailey (Stamford, Lincs), seeded eight, takes on South
Africa’s Diana Argyle in the top half of the draw. If the seeds go to plan
she would meet world number one and top seed Nicol David (MAS) in the
quarter-finals.
Jenny Duncalf (Harrogate, North Yorkshire), seeded five, faces Scotland’s
Louise Philip in the opening round, Vicky Botwright (Swinton, Manchester),
seeded four, plays Sharon Chimfwembe from Zambia and number six seed Linda
Elriani (Eastbourne) takes-on Jamaica’s Karen Anderson.
Duncalf, Botwright and Elriani all feature in the bottom half of the draw,
along with Australia’s number two seed Rachel Grinham, who gets a first
round bye.
Both singles competitions get underway on Thursday 16 March, the opening day
of sport at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
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