Squash: Three medals for NZ as Australia scoop titles

New Zealand grabbed three medals, including two silver, on the last day of the world doubles squash championships in India.

But it was Australia who took away the major spoils at Chennai, winning all three titles overnight.

World No 1 Rachael Grinham, of Queensland, became the first player in the tournament's history to claim two gold.

One of New Zealand's silver medals went to Shelley Kitchen and Glen Wilson, who were beaten 11-9 9-8 9-8 in the mixed doubles final by Grinham and fellow Australian David Palmer, the top seeds.

Kitchen and Wilson, the second seeds, fully extended their opponents before going down in a 45-minute contest.

There was particular disappointment for Wilson, who was a gold medallist with the now-retired Leilani Rorani in the same event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Grinham then went on court with younger sister Natalie for the women's doubles final and they took just 27 minutes to overcome New Zealanders Lara Petera and Louise Crome 9-7 9-4 9-3.

New Zealand also claimed bronze in the event when Kitchen and Tamsyn Leevey beat Malaysia's Nicol David and Triciah Chuah 9-6 9-5 9-7 in the third-place playoff.

In the men's doubles, Australians Byron Davis and Cameron White, downed Ritwik Bhattacharya and Saurav Ghosal 9-4 9-3 8-9 9-7 to end local hopes of a first world squash title for India.

- NZPA