Commonwealth Games: Landers-Murphy, King doubles trouble for rivals

Rotorua squash player, Amanda Landers-Murphy. Photo / Ben Fraser

Playing squash as a left-hander could help Amanda Landers-Murphy win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, according to her coach, Danny McQueen.

Landers-Murphy will partner top Kiwi squash player Joelle King in the women's doubles competition in Glasgow this week.

Landers-Murphy, from Rotorua, is a left-handed squash player and is competing at her first Commonwealth Games.

Her coach, McQueen, said playing alongside a good right-hander would suit her.

"They are a pretty good shot at a medal, playing together as a lefty and righty. It helps them both stay on that forehand," McQueen said of Landers-Murphy and King.

Landers-Murphy, 23, is ranked 59th in the world while her squash partner King (Cambridge) is ranked fourth in the world. Landers-Murphy also lined up in the women's singles competition at the Games but was knocked out in the first round. She was chosen primarily to play in the pairs and will also compete in the mixed pairs competition alongside Canterbury's Paul Coll this week.

The women's doubles competition begins tonight with the finals scheduled to be played early on Sunday morning.

Other athletes from Rotorua competing this week include Sarah Cowley (high jump) and Valerie Adams (shot put).

Adams will compete on Thursday from 7.40am. Cowley will compete in qualifying tomorrow from 9.45pm, with the high jump final scheduled for Saturday at 5.05am.