England Clinch World Title In Pakistan
More than four year after 'defecting' from Scotland to join take advantage of England's Lottery-funded World Class Performance Programme, Peter Nicol rewarded his country in the strongest possible way by clinching victory for England in today's (Wednesday) final of the Men's World Team Squash Championships in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The 2/0 success over second seeds Egypt marks the first time England have won the biggest team prize in world squash since 1997, and the first time that Nicol has played a part in an England world championships triumph.
It was 22-year-old James Willstrop who set up England's victory on the all-glass court at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad. The new world number two, who is leading the England squad for the first time, fought back from a game down to claim a sensational 4-9 9-6 9-3 9-1 win over world champion Amr Shabana in the 63-minute clash between the countries' first strings.
Nicol, who won a Commonwealth Games gold medal for England in 2002 in Manchester, then faced Egyptian number three Mohammed Abbas for the title. Despite scoring only three points, Abbas kept the world No8 on court for 44 minutes before Nicol raised his arms in triumph after the 9-0 9-2 9-1 win which earned England their third title since 1995.
"This is my way of repaying England for all the support they have give me over the years – the programme, the funding, the coaching, and everything else," said the jubilant former Scot afterwards.
"I really wanted this victory badly and am really pleased to have done it," added Nicol, who now holds two world titles this year after winning the World Games trophy in Germany in July.