Only New Zealand’s two leading squash players have survived into the quarter-final rounds of the Commonwealth Games singles.
Paul Coll, the second seed in the men’s event, needed 39 minutes to dispatch Malaysian Ivan Yuen 11-5, 11-6, 11-4. Coll’s extraordinary court speed was too much for the Malaysian and he seldom appeared in trouble.
He now faces a much sterner test, against fifth seed Daryl Selby of England.
Joelle King, the second seed in the women’s singles, took 40 minutes to get past 19-year-old Malaysian Sivasangari Subramaniam, who with her unflustered manner looked a little like a young Nicole David.
Subramaniam caused a flutter when she took the second game, but King eventually eased to victory 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3. She now meets India’s Joshna Chinappa, and won’t want to take that match lightly.
Campbell Grayson, the men’s 10th seed, struck a tough draw in former world No 1 James Willstrop of England. The 32-year-old New Zealander gave a good account of himself, but eventually Willstrop’s superior racket skills negated Grayson’s retrieving ability.
Willstrop had to endure 70 minutes of hard labour before he won 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7 and he looked as if he’d had enough by the end.
New Zealand’s No 2 woman, Amanda Landers-Murphy, was unlucky to run into top-seeded Englishwoman Laura Massaro and did well to push her to 11-8, 13-11, 11-8.