The Commonwealth Games, one of the largest multi-sport events in the world, is just weeks away with Opening Ceremonies on Oct. 3 in Delhi, India. The 12-day spectacle will feature 7,000 athletes from 71 nations and territories competing in 17 different sports, including Squash. And favored to take home gold medals are men’s World No. 2, Nick Matthew, and women’s World No. 1, Nicol David.
For Matthew, Delhi will be his second Commonwealth Games. Four years ago, in Melbourne, Australia, Matthew finished just out of the medals in fourth place.
“I’m going there to win gold,” said Matthew. “Coming fourth last time was very disappointing. It hurt a lot—it’s the worst position you can finish. I’m going to use that experience to spur me on in Delhi.”
Four years go, the squash world was still eagerly anticipating a vote by the International Olympic Committee that would bring squash into the Olympic Games. But the most recent vote snubbed squash to the dismay of players around the world.
“With squash not being in the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games are one of the highlights for us, especially as it only comes around every four years,” commented Matthew. “Hopefully we can put on a show for people to prove what we could bring to the Olympics.”
Since squash was admitted to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, England has won five of the 15 gold medals in squash (which includes men’s and women’s singles and doubles). England has also taken home four silvers and 10 bronzes—trailing only Australia in the overall medal haul from the quadrennial Games.
You can follow the Commonwealth Game online: cwgdelhi2010.org.
