Nicol and Nafiizwan fail to reach finals

Malaysias Nicol David plays a shot against Englands Alison Waters in the women’s singles quarter-final squash match during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Oxenford Studios venue in Gold Coast on April 7, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

NICOL David’s (pic) hopes of a gold medal in what is possibly her last Commonwealth Games has ended on a sorry note.

The Malaysian squash queen couldn’t find the extra spring in her step as she was put to the sword in an 11-13, 5-11, 11-1, 5-11 semi-final defeat to New Zealand’s Joelle King at the Oxenford Studios yesterday.

The eight-time world champion came into the match on the back of a massive comeback in the quarter-finals.

Then, the 34-year-old battled from two sets down and saved two match balls before overcoming England’s Alison Waters 7-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 in 68 minutes.

That seemed to have taken a toll on her as a fresher King raced to a 2-0 lead.

Nicol came storming back to take the third 11-1 but it only delayed the inevitable as world No. 4 King stepped up to seal the win in 45 minutes.

World No. 9 Nicol, who was the gold medallist in 2010 and 2014, conceded that King was just too good on the day.

“Yes, this is probably my last Commonwealth Games. I’ve really put my heart and soul into it,” said Nicol.

“The first set was the decider and maybe it could have been a different story if I had won that.

“But Joelle has been very consistent and once I was 2-0 down, it was always going to be hard to come back.

“I did give it my best push but sometimes my best just isn’t enough.

“It’s a disappointing finish but I’ve had my share of the golds and I wasn’t consistent enough this time.

“Tomorrow is a new day and I’ll focus on finishing with at least a bronze.”

The Penangite will take on Welshwoman Tesni Evans for the bronze. Evans was beaten 6-11, 3-11, 8-11 by England’s Sarah-Jane Perry in the other semi-final.

It was also a double blow for Malaysia as national No. 1 Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan found former world No. 1 James Willstrop of England just too hot to handle in the men’s semi-finals.

The world No. 35, who pulled off a big upset by beating defending champion and top seed Nick Matthew a day earlier, was outgunned in a 6-11, 10-12, 4-11 defeat.

“I’m just disappointed I couldn’t pull through to deliver a gold or silver.

“But I have a chance for bronze and I will give it my best one more time,” said Nafiizwan, who takes on Wales’ Joel Makin for the bronze.