 Nicol has been an outstanding figure in the sport for many years |
British squash number one Peter Nicol has announced he will retire from the sport later this year. Nicol will defend his English Open title next month before finishing his career at the Al-Ahram World Open in Egypt in September.
"I have had a wonderful career in squash but I still feel I have two more titles in me," said the 33-year-old.
"I'm training as hard as ever to wrap up my competitive career with two further wins."
Nicol earned 66 caps for Scotland before switching allegiance to England in March 2001 to work with the World Class Performance Programme.
During his career he won more than 50 major international titles, including Commonwealth Games singles gold in 1998 and 2006, and doubles gold in 2002 and 2006.
He spent 60 months at the top of the world rankings and was awarded an MBE in 1999.
"Winning the singles gold medal in Melbourne this year was the best experience of my squash career," he admitted.
"I was more passionate and more open than I've ever been on court before. It's the first time I've ever been able to let my emotions go, rather than do the right thing by keeping them suppressed.
"It was a different side of me that hasn't been seen before and without that I wouldn't have won."
Nicol will continue to work for England Squash as a guide and mentor to their National Academy and will also be a Team England ambassador for 2010 for the Commonwealth Games Council for England.
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