Squash: Women's doubles claim Commonwealth Games gold

Joelle King (L) and Amanda Landers-Murphy (R) of New Zealand celebrate victory. Photo / Getty

Squash New Zealand completed their most successful Commonwealth Games by securing a fourth medal, and second gold, on the final day of competition.

Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy took 21 minutes to triumph 11-9, 11-8 over India's Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik in the women's doubles final.

That added to King and Paul Coll's respective singles gold and silver medals, and their bronze in the mixed doubles.

The country's previous best was at Manchester in 2002 when they earned gold in the mixed doubles (Leilani Rorani and Glen Wilson), women's doubles (Rorani and Carol Owens) and a silver to Owens in the singles.

"I'm happy to be part of that," King said of the 2018 vintage.

"It'll probably sink in tonight once we have a group chat and reflect on our efforts."

King described herself as "absolutely knackered" after completing 16 games across the event.

"Every day we've walked back into the village and the other athletes give us grief, saying 'you're still playing?'

"It's a tough schedule, there's no getting away from it, but I wouldn't be here without my team picking me up all the time.

"There have definitely been days when I've been absent-minded on court and the team has picked me up. Paul [Coll] and I are rewarded with a long flight to Egypt tomorrow [to resume on the circuit].

King was asked whether it would be first-class.

"We'll see what we can do about that," she joked.

The women's doubles championship point saw double teapots struck from the Indians at the lack of a let, but the umpire's decision was final. The New Zealanders emerged triumphant to the strains of Slice of Heaven.

In a showcase for reactive skill, the duos ducked, dived, weaved and whipped their way around the court in a frenzy.

The face-masked New Zealanders took an early lead in the opening game and never surrendered it, despite India closing the gap on the scoreboard.

Ditto game two.

"One of our plans was to make it intense," Landers-Murphy said. "We took that to the game and fed off it for the rest of the match."

"Heading into today I felt the best of the whole tournament," King added.

"I woke up with a spring in my step, but it's hard to take a moment to relax. Tonight's about enjoying it, and it will be nice to go back to a normal life."

The pair stumbled in their first match of the tournament, losing 10-11, 10-11 to Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramanium and Rachael Arnold, but righted their campaign in the ultimate fashion.