King battles through to squash semis

1:41 am on 2 August 2022

Joelle King is through to the Commonwealth Games women's squash semifinals, but was pushed every inch of the way by Englishwoman Lucy Turmel in a marathon quarterfinal.

new Zealand squash player Joelle King.

Joelle King Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Turmel took the first set 11-9, but King - ranked fifth in the world to Turmel's 28th - jumped out to a useful 9-2 lead in the second.

Turmel dug in and levelled the scores, with both players hold multiple game points before King prevailed 18-16. The final two games were equally close, the 33-year-old New Zealander edging both 11-9 14-12 to take out out the 85-minute epic encounter.

King won double gold at the 2018 Games, in singles and then doubles with Amanda Landers-Murphy, and is contesting her fourth Commonwealth Games.

Teammate Paul Coll, ranked second in the world, is also through to the men's semifinals, dispatching Adran Waller (England) 12-10 11-4 11-7.