Nicol David enters Glasgow squash quarter-finals

Wiggins bows out of Commonwealth Games with silver in cycling.

GLASGOW:

Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David cruised into the quarter-finals of the women’s squash at the Commonwealth Games on Friday with a three-game victory over New Zealand’s Megan Craig.

David, the world’s top player since 2006, made it through to the last eight with an 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 win.

“It was good to be out there playing better squash,” said David.

“It’s fantastic to see even from the first round, and the crowds just keep getting better and to have the whole Malaysia crew cheering me on is always great.”

New Zealander Joelle King also secured her place in the quarter-finals with a four-game win over India’s Joshana Chinappa.

Wiggins targets Rio Olympics

Bradley Wiggins has set his sights on claiming gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016 after losing out to Australia in the final of the men’s team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games.

“I’ve kind of done the road now. I’ve bled it dry,” he told the BBC.

Wiggins believes that a track gold in Rio is possible despite another silver in Glasgow.

“I think we’re disappointed but in hindsight we will look back on this and think this was the start of things for us,” said Wiggins of their defeat to Australia.

“Over the next two years Rio is the goal and we’re going to work back from that target.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang was warned he risked being thrown out of the Commonwealth Games if he repeated wearing gloves bearing the message ‘Save Gaza’.

England’s Fran Halsall set a new Commonwealth Games record of 24:31sec in qualifying fastest for the semi-finals of the women’s 50m freestyle ahead of Australian sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell.

In another off-field incident Welsh 400m hurdler Rhys Williams has been withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games after failing a doping test. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2014.

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