Squash: Owens shut out of gold by world's best

8.10am

MANCHESTER - A stirring fightback wasn't enough for New Zealand's Carol Owens to overcome her nemesis and world No 1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald in the Commonwealth Games women's squash final here tonight.

Former Australian and world No 2 Owens had to settle for a silver medal following a gutsy 5-9 0-9 9-2 9-10 loss.

Fitz-Gerald, 33, showed the composure and skill that has kept her on top of the world for two years and unbeaten in 55 consecutive matches.

Owens, two years younger and representing New Zealand for the first time, had her chances to win a compelling fourth set but basic errors let her down. The 33-year-old Australian raised her arms in delight, realising she could have been in trouble if the 51-minute match went into a fifth game.

After losing the second game in just six minutes, Owens deliberately slowed the pace of the rallies in the third. It rattled her former compatriot, forcing her into uncharacteristic errors and ultimately dropping her first game of the tournament.

Owens had her chances to win the fourth but some sublime shot-making mixed with some frustrating mistakes as a largely-English crowd of 1500 got behind the fist-pumping New Zealand underdog.

"Obviously everyone comes here to win a gold medal but I have to be content with silver because that's all I'm going to get," Owens said.

"It's disappointing, especially as at our ages I can't see us playing another Commonwealth Games.

"I just hope that Leilani Rorani and I can pick a gold up in the women's doubles, and maybe in the mixed (with Daniel Sharplin) this week."

Fitz-Gerald recorded her ninth straight win over her former Melbourne clubmate since falling a victim to Owens' memorable world championship charge two years ago.

There was relief mixed with joy as Fitz-Gerald admitted the New Zealander was closing the gap on her.

"I'd like to say I was confident during her fightback because I've been there before and beaten her so many times," Fitz-Gerald said.

"But there was so much pressure there, who knows. If she won the fourth game her confidence would have gone up a notch again and I would have had to find something to dig it out. Thank God I won the fourth."

It was the second Games medal for Australian-born Owens, who teamed with Fitz-Gerald to win a doubles bronze at Kuala Lumpur four years ago.

Soon afterwards she switched to represent New Zealand and has risen to be the world's second-best player, consistently beating every opponent except Fitz-Gerald.

"She's world No 1 because she's consistent," Owens said.

"If you don't have a world No 1 then there is no challenge. Every time you step on the court with her it's a major challenge.

"Tonight I felt the pressure mounting on her, I think Sarah was starting to feel it there. I was creeping up slowly, I was starting to feel good.

"But you can't afford to make basic mistakes when the pressure goes on."

There was tension in the air throughout the match between two players who have been the fiercest of rivals since Owens' trans-Tasman shift.

"There's obviously a rivalry now that we're playing for Australia and New Zealand," Owens said.

"I wouldn't say we're best of friends."

She disputed many of the refereeing decisions, particularly in the first set, but later said she was more disappointed with how she was playing than with the officials.

"I just rushed, I felt like a bit of a headless chook in those first two games.

"Sarah had all the pressure on her but I was the one panicking and rushing."

It is the second Games squash medal won by New Zealand. The mixed double of Glen Wilson and Sarah Cook won bronze at Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier today Rorani and Wilson made a winning start to their mixed campaign, beating Guyanese pair Nicolette Fernandes and Luke Fraser 15-5 15-3.

Mens Singles Final

Jonathon Power (Can) bt Peter Nicol (Eng) 9-4 4-9 9-3 9-0

Womens Singles Final

Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aus) bt CAROL OWENS (NZL) 9-5 9-0 2-9 10-9

Mens Singles Plate Final:

Jesse Engelbrecht (Zim) bt Neil Frankland (Sco) 9-5 9-5 2-9 4-9 9-5

Womens Singles Plate Final:

Margo Green (Can) bt Karen Anderson (Jam) 9-0 9-5 9-1

Mens Doubles Pools:

Pool A: Farrukh Zaman & Shamsul Islam Khan (Pak) bt Regan Pollard & Luke Fraser (Guy) 15-14 15-5

Pool B: Mark Chaloner & Paul Johnson (Eng) bt Keabetsoe Monnapula & Lentsoe Monnapula (Les) walkover

Pool C: Patrick Chifunda, Ernest Chisenga (Zam) bt Rajdeep Bains, Hartaj Bains (Ken) 17-16 11-15 15-10

Pool D: Jason Nicolle & Gareth David Webber (Gue) bt James Bullock & Wayne Prescod (Jam) 15-6 15-4

Pool F: Shahier Razik & Graham Ryding (Can) bt Baitsi Motsamai & B K Taoana (Les) 15-5 15-3

Mixed Doubles Pools:

Pool A: Kelvin Ho & Sharon Wee (Mas) bt Katrina Hogan & Scott Fitzgerald (Wal) 15-7 15-11, LEILANI RORANI & GLEN WILSON (NZL) bt Luke Fraser & Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) 15-5 15-3, Fiona Geaves & Chris Walker (Eng) bt Katrina Hogan & Scott Fitzgerald (Wal) 15-5 15-10

Pool B: Robyn Cooper & Joe Kneipp (Aus) bt Marlene West & James Bullock (Jam) 15-0 15-13

Pool C: Martin Heath & Pamela Nimmo (Sco) bt Naluge Guy & Derek Hunter (Png) 15-8 15-7

Pool D: Wendy Maitland & Neil Frankland (Sco) bt Karen Anderson & Wayne Prescod (Jam) 15-5 15-1

- NZPA

Full coverage:
nzherald.co.nz/manchester2002

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