Home Hero Clyne Clings On In Glasgow, Latest Report by Howard Harding
CWG photo courtesy Squashpics.com
July 24, 2014
- The longest match on the opening day of Squash action in the
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow produced one of the most popular wins
when Scottish number one Alan Clyne battled back from 2/1 down on the
all-glass showcourt at Scotstoun Sports Campus to beat Indian Harinder
Pal Sandhu to claim a place in the last 16.
A disputed no let call
on match ball - upheld by the fourth referee after lengthy
consideration - gave victory to the ninth seed from Edinburgh 12-14,
11-9, 13-15, 11-1, 11-9 after 116 minutes.
The top 16 seeds, led by Malaysia's defending champion Nicol David, moved comfortably into the last 16 of the women's event.
The near capacity
crowd of some 2,000 fans cheered on every winning point by Clyne before
erupting in sheer jubilation when the central referee confirmed his
triumph.
"Was it really 60
seconds - it felt more like five minutes," joked the 27-year-old world
No35 when asked what he was thinking about while the final decision was
being.
"There wasn't much in it - the crowd probably made the difference," acknowledged Clyne.
Sandhu said: "My goal
now is the next Commonwealth Games in 2018. Most of the top players now
won't be playing anymore - my age will be in my favour."
Scot Clyne now faces
defending top-seeded Englishman Nick Matthew, the reigning gold
medallist who beat Jamaican underdog Christopher Binnie 11-4, 11-8,
11-4.
"I wasn't expected to
win - but I wanted to compete," said US-based Binnie, the 25-year-old
Caribbean champion who is fighting back to form after a six-month
layoff following hip surgery.
Within hours of
producing the upset of the tournament when he overcame eighth seed Ong
Beng Hee, Zambian Kelvin Ndhlovu became the only unseeded player in the
men's last 16 when he beat Joe Chapman, of the British Virgin Islands,
11-6, 10-12, 11-0, 12-10.
"I knew my preparation was good," said the unranked 28-year-old South Africa-based Zambian.
Alister Walker became
the first Botswana player ever to reach the last 16 when he beat
Cameron Stafford, of the Cayman Islands, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5.
"I was much more
nervous before my first match than I expected to be," said sixth seed
Walker. "It's the whole expectation - more so back in your own country
than there is for the Tour events we play. I'm hoping my matches will
be shown on TV back in southern Africa - which would be a first.
"I'm dying to get onto the glass court - which I will tomorrow.
"It's easy when you're from Botswana - every step is history!"
Only hours after
having the honour of being one of six sporting icons chosen to carry
the Commonwealth Games flag into the arena during the Opening Ceremony,
Malaysia's world No1 Nicol David successfully began the defence of the
women's title with an 11-6, 11-2, 11-1 win over Vanessa Florens, from
Mauritius.
"It was an
unbelievable experience - and I wouldn't have missed it for the world,"
said David. "Representing Asia and carrying the Commonwealth Games flag
with some of my greatest sporting heroes was phenomenal. Just thinking
about it gives me goose-bumps.
"It was a dream to win the gold medal for Malaysia last year."
England's world No2
Laura Massaro, David's anticipated opponent in Monday's final, also
despatched her first round opponent in straight games, seeing off
16-year-old Papua New Guinean Lynette Vai 11-2, 11-4, 11-1.
"It was unbelievable for a first round match - an unbelievable atmosphere. I think I'm playing OK.
"For squash players,
there are three major titles they want - the British Open, the World
Open and the Commonwealth Games - and I'm lucky enough to have won two
of them so this is the one I now want. The Commonwealth Games doesn't
come round very often," said Massaro.
Men's 4th round line-up: [1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [9] Alan Clyne (SCO) [7] Chris Simpson (GGY) v [11] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) [3] Peter Barker (ENG) v [10] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) [5] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [16] Greg Lobban (SCO) Kelvin Ndhlovu (ZAM) v [12] Campbell Grayson (NZL) [4] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [14] Steven Finitsis (AUS) [6] Alister Walker (BOT) v [15] Ivan Yuen (MAS) [2] James Willstrop (ENG) v [13] Martin Knight (NZL)
Women's 3rd round line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [16] Megan Craig (NZL) [8] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [14] Samantha Cornett (CAN) [3] Joelle King (NZL) v [12] Joshana Chinappa (IND) [7] Madeline Perry (NIR) v [10] Kasey Brown (AUS) [6] Dipika Pallikal (IND) v [15] Delia Arnold (MAS) [4] Alison Waters (ENG) v [9] Rachael Grinham (AUS) [5] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [13] Tesni Evans (WAL) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [11] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
