England’s Willstrop, Selby into last four at Games Squash
GLASGOW: James Willstrop, England’s losing men’s singles finalist, kept alive his hopes of another medal after a closely-fought victory over New Zealanders Lance Beddoes and Paul Coll with partner Daryl Selby on Friday.
The English third seeds needed 68 minutes to win an exciting quarter-final 11-8, 6-11, 11-9 to make the last four as the doubles events progressed towards the final stages on Friday.
Doubles is unusual in that the Commonwealth Games is one of the few opportunities players get to compete in such matches and one that Willstrop finds difficult to assess.
“I don’t really know about our chances, I’m not thinking too far ahead,” he said. “Those guys have proved they are a superb pair together and we just have to, cliched I know, take each session as it comes because it is all too intense.
“They could have beaten us today and that is going to be able to happen every game, we know that. I can’t really explain doubles, it’s like a leveller with different angles. There is a whole different environment but in badminton and tennis they have doubles specialists so it feels like a whole different sport to us.”
Beddoes and Coll, young players tipped for bright futures in the sport, ran Willstrop and Selby close and there were a few third game points that included lets given. “Controversy happens a lot in doubles as people get in each other’s way,” said Beddoes. “When it gets close it happens a lot more so it is so tough to win any rally.”
Coll had to play in both the opening matches of the day as he quickly linked up with Amanda Landers-Murphy but the pair were well beaten by Australian top seeds Cameron Pilley and Kasey Brown 11-1, 11-8.
Highlights on Friday are the women’s doubles semi-finals with England guaranteed at least a silver medal in the competition when Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro, the top seeds, take on Emma Beddoes and Alison Waters.
Australian second seeds Brown and Rachael Grinham face a tough contest against Indian No.5 seeds Dipika Pallikal and Joshana Chinappa.
Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2014