Nicol ready

15-Mar:
Nicol ready for "Most important
event in the Calendar" ...
Howard Harding reports

On the eve of leading England's squash team in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, twice gold medallist Peter Nicol announced that the squad is in great spirits and "ready to start".

With more than 50 major international titles to his name, including Commonwealth Games singles gold in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and doubles gold in Manchester four years ago – and 60 months at the top of the world rankings – one might assume that Peter Nicol has achieved all that he wants to in squash.

But the 32-year-old from London has been focussed on gold in Melbourne for the past year.

"I'm proud of my two gold medals from previous events – but I am determined to get another one in what will certainly be my last Commonwealth Games appearance," explained the former world champion in Melbourne.

When asked what the Commonwealth Games means to him, Nicol was quick to respond:

"It's huge. For me, it's the most important thing on the calendar. It’s the biggest multi-sport event squash is in – and competing in it is like nothing else in the world. It doesn't compare to anything else.

"There's a great team spirit in the squad – we all know each other well and help each other out. And we're all ready to start now."

With a bye in the first round on the first day of action tomorrow , fourth seed Nicol is likely to face South Africa's Rodney Durbach for a place in the last sixteen.

"Rodney will be a tough first opponent - but I'm feeling in good form and, having been in Melbourne for more than a week now, I just can't wait to get the first match underway," said the left-hander.

If things go according to the seedings, Nicol would meet England team-mate James Willstrop, the 22-year-old No2 seed from Yorkshire, for a place in his third successive singles final.

The former Scot has admitted recently that, whilst he won't now retire immediately after the 2006 Games, he is unlikely to play on the international PSA Tour beyond the end of this year.

"I'm not going to be playing for much longer after this, so I'm going to enjoy every minute of competing here in Melbourne," concluded Nicol.

With two medals in both previous Games, in Malaysia and England, Nicol is keen to bring his total up to six before hanging up his rackets. He partners Yorkshireman Lee Beachill in the men's doubles in a bid to become the only pair to successfully defend their gold medal won in Manchester.

Seeded two, Beachill and Nicol are expected to face top seeds Stewart Boswell & Anthony Ricketts, the Australians they beat in the 2002 final, in the Melbourne final on Sunday 16 March at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

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