Nicol confident of Malaysia doubles sweep

GLASGOW: World number one Nicol David is sure she can deliver Malaysia's first women's doubles gold medal as well as another singles title at the Commonwealth Games.David, 30, the world's top-ranked player since 2006 is looking to retain the singles title she won in New Delhi four years ago in Glasgow, where five of the world's top seven will be competing.

She claims she is full of confidence after overcoming England's world number two Laura Massaro at the British Open in May.

But David maintains the doubles, where she and world number seven Low Wee Wern are seeded fourth, is also a major priority ahead of her fourth Commonwealth Games.

"Winning the British Open was a great feeling because of its prestige. I really wanted to get the title back and it was tough as Laura was playing superb squash," she told the Malaysia Star.

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"It is going to be very similar in terms of intensity in Glasgow. I believe everyone will be gunning for the gold too.

"It is tougher in the doubles. We have to adjust our playing style as the court is wider.

At the end of the day, it's down to us to do what needs to be done.

"I think Wee Wern is a good partner because she is solid and she just keeps going.

She will do her part well and I just need to reduce the mistakes I make."

In singles, David comes up against Vanessa Florens of Mauritius in the first round, while the men's top seed Nick Matthew faces another Mauritian, Xavier Koenig.

England's Matthew, winner of the men's singles and men's doubles titles four years ago, is the strong favourite to take gold the men's event.

The reigning world champion and world number two underwent knee surgery in June but will be ready to compete in Glasgow. The 33-year-old claims his recent injury worries mean he should not be considered a certainty for gold but feels his experience at three previous Commonwealth Games will be crucial.

"I obviously hope to still win gold but there's no way that I can be the favourite having not played for this amount of time," Matthew said.

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"If they want to consider me the favourite that's up to them, but I certainly won't be in my own mind, so that will take the pressure off.

"This is my third Games, I'm on to the experienced end of things now. I've got a lot of experience and it's about time I used it." - AFP

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