Nicol David wins squash gold

Top seed Nicol David of Malaysia added the only major title missing from her showcase when she defeated England's Jenny Duncalf to win the women's singles gold in the squash event at the Commonwealth Games on Friday.

The world No 1's feat is all the more significant as she triumphed without dropping a game, just as she had done at last month's World Open in Egypt.

The Malaysian needed just 40 minutes to beat Duncalf 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 in the final on the all-glass court at the Siri Fort Sports Complex.

In her fourth attempt, after competing in squash's maiden appearance in the Games in her home country in 1998 when just 15, David finally clinched gold.

"I'm so excited right now -- it's just so wonderful. Jenny didn't play her best today -- but I had to take my opportunities. A Commonwealth Games gold medal is one of my highest achievements so far. The fact that it's in a multi-sport event, which means so much for Malaysia, makes it even more important for me," said the 27-year-old from Penang.

David had won a record-equalling fifth world title only to weeks ago and recently celebrated her 54th month as world umber one.

In the women's singles third place play-off, Australia's sixth seed Kasey Brown won the bronze medal without even hitting the centre court.

Her opponent, world number three Alison Waters of England, withdrew with an achilles tendon injury before their scheduled clash.

It is the first Games medal for Brown, the world No 8, who made her debut in Melbourne four years ago.

In the men's bronze-medal clash, third seed Englishman Peter Barker got the better of Malaysia's Mohammed Azlan Iskandar 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 in 45 minutes.