News

Paul made history for New Zealand, defeating Wales’ Joel Makin 3-2, to become the first Kiwi man to win a gold medal in squash at a Commonwealth Games. With the two highest-ranked male players in the Commonwealth Games field playing taking the match to 5 games was not unexpected, nor the 102 minute court time to seal the match. Thoroughly tested by his Welsh opponent, Coll was forced to bounce back from a shock 3-11 loss in the first game. After several long and physically challenging rallies over the next 4 games Coll prevailed taking the final game of the match : (3-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7).

The Gold Medal can be added to Paul’s achievements over the past year, including winning his first British Open title last year and defending that crown again in April this year, together with No. 1 World Ranking for a brief time.

Sadly Joelle King’s squash singles campaign has ended. In a rematch of the Gold Medal Final on the Gold Coast 4 years ago and 2 games up in the match Joelle faltered. Sarah-Jane came storming back to take the next 3 games and ultimately the match and Bronze Medal.

Men’s Singles Medal Winners

Gold – Paul Coll (New Zealand)

Silver – Joel Makin (Wales)

Bronze – Saurav Ghosal (India)

Women’s Singles Medal Winners

Gold – Georgina Kennedy (England)

Silver – Hollie Naughton (Canada)

Bronze – Sarah-Jane Perry (England)

Mixed Doubles

The first of the Mixed Doubles matches were played today with Australia and Papua New Guinea fielding teams. The Australian pairing of Grinham/Alexander easily defeated their

opponents to move to the Round of 16, along with the Aussies Lobban/Pilley who defeated their Oceania neighbours from PNG.

The Round of 16 will get underway on Thursday with King/Coll (NZ) taking on Zafar/Iqbal (Pakistan), Lobban/Pilley (Aus) Vs Chinappa/Sandhu (India) and Grinham/Alexander (Aus) will play the winners on the Malta/England match.

Rachael Grinham/Zac Alexander (Aus) def Jade Pitcairn/Jake Kelly (Cayman Islands) : 2-0

(11-1, 11-4)

Donna Lobban/Cameron Pilley (Aus) def Amity Alarcos/Feanor Siaguru (PNG) : 2-0 (11-6, 11-4).

Congratulations also to our referees who are also in Birmingham flying the Oceania flag and officiating some of the major matches.

Glen Carson (NZ) : Women’s Singles Gold Medal Match

Russell Weatherburn (Aus) : Bronze Medal Matches (Men’s & Women’s Singles)