Squash Flagged Up By Commonwealth Games by Howard Harding 22 July 2014
- Squash is basking in the glory of having three of its elite athletes
chosen to be flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2014
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow tomorrow evening.
After Malaysian
superstar and women's world number one Nicol David was given the honour
of leading the eight Asian countries into the arena, world No20 Chris
Simpson was elected the Guernsey flag-bearer - then this afternoon it
was revealed that Team England's athletes had voted three-time world
champion Nick Matthew to carry his country's flag!
"It's a great honour
to be chosen to carry the flag by this incredibly talented team of
athletes from Team England," said Matthew, the 33-year-old world No2
from Sheffield who is seeded to retain both the Men's Singles and Men's
Doubles gold medals he won in Delhi in 2010.
"The Commonwealth
Games is a pinnacle for squash players in a multi-sport Games
environment, and I feel extremely proud to represent all the different
sports and athletes here as we unite as Team England.
"I can't wait to share
that very special moment with the whole of Team England before we get
down to the business of bringing home the medals for our country."
Nicol David, winner of
the Women's Singles gold medal four years ago and now competing in a
record-equalling fifth successive Games, has topped the world rankings
unopposed since August 2006. "I feel privileged and honoured to lead
the Asian continent in the Commonwealth Games," said the record seven
times world champion on hearing the news.
Simpson, Guernsey's
highest-ranked squash player of all-time, said: "I feel very proud and
honoured to be Guernsey's flag bearer at tomorrow's Opening Ceremony."
World Squash
Federation President N Ramachandran could not hide his delight at the
recognition achieved by the trio: "It is a great honour for our sport
that three squash players will be carrying the flag of their country at
the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
"We are very proud of them, and their selection shows just how highly esteemed Nicol, Nick and Chris are by their nations."
British rowing icon
Sir Matthew Pinsent was one of the first to offer his congratulations
to Matthew: "Congrats to @nickmatthew squash - wonderful choice for ENG
flag bearer," tweeted the four-time Olympic gold medallist.
