At a time when most of the sports featuring in the Commonwealth Games are marred by star pullouts, squash remains an event that boasts of the top names from the world.
Led by 19 players from both the men’s and women’s world top 20 rankings, the cast list for the CWG Squash Championships will be world-class — with Malaysia’s World No.1 Nicol David seeded to win the women’s singles gold medal and England’s Nick Matthew, the World No. 2, expected to take men’s gold.
Players from 27 countries will compete in the two singles events, which get under way at the superb new eleven-court Siri Fort Complex — which features an all-glass centre court — on Monday.
“It’s going to be amazing. We have worked very hard for this event and are looking forward to slogging it out inside that wonderful court,” England’s Daryl Paul Selby said. While a new gold medallist is assured in both the men’s and women’s events, Australia’s David Palmer will be hoping to win his third successive medal after clinching bronze in England in 2002 and silver on home soil four years ago.
“The Commonwealth Games is very important to me — and it looks as if I’m back in form. It’s better late than never! So I can go back home and be happy now.
“But it’s going to be very tough in Delhi,” admitted the 34-year-old fifth seed.
In the women’s section, Nicol, who celebrated her 50th successive month as world number one this month, is in sparkling form after winning a record-equalling fifth World Open title in Egypt earlier this month.
“After my win at the World Open, I’m looking forward to bringing that over to Delhi,” said the Malaysian. “The Games will be a completely different atmosphere and being part of the Malaysian contingent will be a nice boost to do my best out there for the country. The Commonwealth Games is always special and I will go all out for it!”
India’s chance of winning the medal amidst all the stars brightened as Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal were seeded second in women’s doubles.
