Malaysian squash player Nafiizwan Adnan advanced to the men's singles semi-finals of the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the expense of defending champion Nick Matthew on Saturday.

The victory did not come easy, as the 31-year-old needed five sets and 81 minutes to overcome the Englishman, who won gold at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014, beating him 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 4-11, 11-6.

"The key to my victory today was that I did not look at him as a legend [that he is]," he told Astro Arena.

"For me, he is my idol and has won the World Championships many times [but] today I told myself to be myself, use my strengths and cover my weaknesses.

"This is the biggest victory in my life. I have always wanted to win a Commonwealth Games medal and give it as a gift for Malaysia and my parents."

Nafiizwan will next face England's James Willstop, currently ranked no.14 in the world, tomorrow.

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Squash queen Nicol David, who is gunning for her third straight gold medal, also progressed to the semi-finals in the women's singles event, beating England's Alison Waters.

After losing the first two sets 7-11, 11-13, she took the remaining sets 11-9, 11-9, 12-10.


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