Nafiizwan wins historic bronze but Nicol finishes empty handed
Monday, 9 Apr 20184:18 PM MYT
by kng zheng guan
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (left) reaches for a shot against Wales' Joel Makin in the bronze medal playoff. - GLENN GUAN / The Star
GOLD COAST: Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan won a historic bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games after beating Welshman Joel Makin in the playoff.
No Malaysian man has ever won a medal in men's singles at the Games with former world No. 10 Mohd Azlan Iskandar coming closest with a fourth placed finish at the 2010 New Delhi Games.
And national No. 1 Nafiizwan certainly stepped up when mattered most as he downed Makin 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5 in a gruelling match that lasted 81 minutes.
"This is the biggest match that I have ever played," said a delighted world No. 35 who had delivered the upset of the tournament when he knocked out defending champion and top seed Nick Matthew of England in the quarter-finals.
Nafiizwan's impressive achievement certainly made up for the earlier disappointment when Nicol David finished empty handed.
The eight-time world champion, playing in her last Commonwealth Games, couldn't get the better of Wales' Tesni Evans as she lost 7-11, 11-3, 10-12, 7-11.
It is a sad end for the world No. 9 who is playing in her sixth Games.
"I would have loved a medal but this is what it is and I gave it everything I had," said the Penangite.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/squash/2018/04/09/nafiizwan-claims-historic-bronze-but-nicol-finished-empty-handed/#TFQkbvp2H72VkCv1.99
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