Team England have today announced that 3 time World Champion and Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles Commonwealth Games Squash Champion Nick Matthew will bear the national flag at the Opening Ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Wednesday 23rd July.
Voted for by his fellow athletes to lead Team England as Flag Bearer, Matthew will be defending both his Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles titles won in Delhi four years ago in what will be his third Commonwealth Games appearance for Team England.
Matthew will reach his 100th England cap on day one of the competition (Thursday 24th July), when the men’s individual round of 64 gets underway, and goes into the Games just four weeks after knee surgery for a small meniscus tear which threated his title defence.
Being selected to carry the Team England flag is due recognition for England’s most successful squash player of all time, with three World Championship titles, three British Open titles and two Commonwealth Games Gold Medals. Matthew follows in the footsteps of London 2012 Team GB flag bearer Sir Chris Hoy, who Matthew cites as his own sporting idol.
Nick Matthew, Team England Flag Bearer, said: “It’s a great honour to be chosen to carry the flag by this incredibly talented team of athletes from Team England.
“The Commonwealth Games is a pinnacle for squash players in a multi-sport Games environment, and I feel extremely proud to represent all the different sports and athletes here as we unite as Team England.
“I can’t wait to share that very special moment with the whole of Team England before we get down to the business of bringing home the medals for our country.”
Congratulating Matthew on his selection, Jan Paterson, Team England Chef de Mission, said: “Nick Matthew is one of Team England’s most successful athletes, and a wonderful choice by the team to lead them into the Opening Ceremony tomorrowevening.
“The Ceremony is an important opportunity for our athletes from different sports to unite as a single spirit and behind a single passion for competing for Team England.
“Nick’s is extremely proud to be a defending Commonwealth Champion and his determination to be here to defend his titles demonstrates his passion for Team England. He will truly inspire the team as he leads them into Celtic Park to mark the start of what we anticipate to be a very exciting and successful Commonwealth Games for Team England.”
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