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Another Gold Medal For New Zealand Squash Team

It was the 16th match for Kiwi squash player Joelle King who has played every day of the Commonwealth Games, but every match has been worth it as the 29-yearold from Cambridge finished with two gold medals and one bronze.

Her latest medal was in the women's doubles where she teamed with Rotorua's Amanda Landers-Murphy to defeat the defending champs Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik of India 11-9, 11-8 in 22 minutes.

King had previously won the women's doubles gold medal with Jackie Hawkes at the Dehli Commonwealth Games, but on the Gold Coast she has a gold from singles, a bronze from mixed with Paul Coll and a gold with Landers-Murphy.

For King, the effects of all of her matches hadn't quite registered on her body yet.

"I'm actually feeling alright at the moment...when you play such a big match on such an occasion and come up on top it's easy to feel on top. I wanted three gold to be honest but to win two gold and a bronze is pretty special," said King who was in high praise for her partner who excelled in the semis and final in particular hitting vital winners.

"She's the dark horse in the team the quiet achiever I'm just proud she has put in the effort and got us through. She carried me through the week, when I was flat she lifted me. I was in awe of her. We play our best when we are relaxed and aggressive."

"We were pretty excited for the game today," said Landers-Murphy who was praised for her shot making, but was typically bashful. "At the time it doesn't really process I guess. As Joey said it's a team effort the only way I can play those shots is because of the pressure she puts on other people."

During the final the Kiwi pair had a significant lead in the first game 8-4 which was pulled back to 9-8 and then 10-9, however King and Landers-Murphy forced a mistake from their rivals.

In the second game they again raced to a big lead, 6-3 and again found the Indian pair coming back. But a stroke to New Zealand to go ahead 9-7 and a winner by Landers Murphy gave the Kiwis a 10-7 lead. They dropped one more point but then won as the Indians called for a let which was not given by the referee.

King will fly to Egypt for the big World Series El Gouna PSA tournament worth US$165,00 in each each draw early Monday morning along with teammate Coll. Coll won the other medal for the New Zealand team with a silver in the men's singles.

The full seven-player New Zealand team was King (Cambridge), Landers-Murphy (Rotorua), Coll (Greymouth), Campbell Grayson (Auckland), Evan Williams (Wellington), Lance Beddoes (Auckland) and Zac Millar (Kapiti, Wellington), coach Glen Wilson, manager Wayne Werder.


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