Commonwealth Games Stars Cruise Into Quarter-finals

The big names progressed to the quarter-finals of the New Zealand National Squash Champs in Henderson with relative ease after the first day of play.

In a rare appearance in New Zealand Commonwealth Games triple medallist and world No. 4 Joelle King and double medal winner, Paul Coll showed their skills as they aim for a seventh and fourth title respectively.

Coll ranked 10th in the world defeated South Canterbury’s Pat Mulvihill 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 in his first round and then Waikato junior Temwa Chileshe 11-7, 11-1, 11-6 to reach the last eight where he will now take on Lwambe Chileshe.

Both King and women’s second seed, Amanda Landers-Murphy who she won doubles gold with at the Commonwealth Games had byes in the first round. In their second round matches King defeated Waikato junior Georgia Robcke who has been selected as a development player in the New Zealand World Junior team to India next month, the scoreline 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 and will play Juee Bhide from the Belmont Club in Auckland.

Landers-Murphy put paid to the efforts of Palmerston North’s Holly Shuja in straight games and will take on Priscilla Wildsmith from Remuera Rackets Club for a spot in the semifinals.

Zac Millar who was a mixed player at the Gold Coast was the only name as such to lose early, however it was to fourth seed Scott Galloway from the Mitchell Park Club in Wellington in a marathon 8-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7,11-8 battle in the second round.

Second seed Evan Williams another player from the Commonwealth Games team moved through after a win over Jamie Oakley in four games while another Gold Coast team mate, Lance Beddoes beat North Shore’s Sion Wiggin in straight games in his second round.

Saturday is quarter and semifinal day, while the women’s final is from 3.20pm on Sunday and the men’s final one hour later, both at the Henderson Squash Club.

Full results can be found HERE