New Zealand had a big win and a disappointing loss in the squash singles semi-finals.
Paul Coll breezed into the final by beating Indian Saurav Ghosal. However, Joelle King went down in four games to Canadian Holly Naughton.
Coll, the world No 2, played his best squash of the tournament in winning 11-9, 11-4, 11-1.
Afterwards he seemed incredibly relaxed.
“I’m very pleased to put in a performance like that. There’s been a lot of pressure on me this year, but here, wearing the fern, wearing black…it’s the best time of my life.
“Lots of times this year I’ve been in tears and my dad has said to me just to relax and play squash and enjoy it. So many people have helped me out. It makes me want to go out and give it everything.”
Coll said King’s surprise defeat fired him up.
“I was following her game while I was warming up. I’m gutted for her, but it makes no difference to how we all see Joelle. She’s been the leader of our team for 10 years, and she’s led from the front, winning medals left, right and centre. Joelle’s so strong and it’s amazing what she puts herself through for New Zealand.”
Coll will play Welsh strongman Joel Makin for the gold medal.
King had a massive quarter-final match, beating Englishwoman Lucy Termel in four dramatic games. The 90-minute effort seemed to take away from her effort against Naughton.
She struggled for focus and lost 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-1,
“I felt okay physically, but my mind was wandering,” she said. “I could hear outside noise that I would never normally have been aware of. I just wasn’t sharp mentally.
“Holly played really well. You can’t take anything away from her, but I’m disappointed with how I played.”
King plays second seed Sarah-Jane Perry in the bronze medal play-off.