Micah Franklin, the Bermuda flag bearer, will grace his sport’s biggest stage today after declaring the Commonwealth Games as the pinnacle for professional game.

Franklin, who carried Bermuda’s flag at last night’s opening ceremony at Celtic Park, will face the winner of Michael Kawooya, of Uganda, and Schubert Maketu, of Papua New Guinea, in the men’s singles round of 64 at the Scotstoun Sports Campus.

Confident that he can more than hold his own against the top players from the smaller countries, the 21-year-old is cautiously optimistic ahead of his Games debut.

“The is certainly the biggest opportunity of my squash career,” Franklin said. “I’m really excited about it. I’m not looking for any huge upsets but I’ll be doing my best and I’m excited about the experience.

“The top seeds are among the best 20 players in the world, so the competition is going to incredibly tough. I’d like to think that I’m at least at the same level as some of the players from the smaller countries. Even if I lose I get to play again against somebody else — I’ll at least get two games.”

Despite being one of the world’s most popular sports, squash continues to be kept out of the Olympic family.

Until squash gains the Olympic recognition it craves, the Commonwealth Games will remain the sport’s top stage, with Franklin believing that a gold medal in Glasgow will be valued higher than a World Open title by the game’s elite.

“When the Commonwealth Games comes around on the squash calendar even the best players start stepping up their training,” Franklin said. “It’s probably the closest to an Olympic Games that squash can get at the moment — this really is the pinnacle.

“For the sport to miss out on London 2012 and Rio 2016 was a bit heartbreaking. Hopefully, one day it will be there.”

Franklin turned professional 12 months ago and is based in Lee-on-the-Solent, in Portsmouth, where he hones his craft for as much as eight hours a day.

By Franklin’s own admission, his life has become “squash, squash, squash” since his relocation and some days struggles to drag his weary body onto the courts for yet another gruelling training session.

He admits, however, that walking out in front of a sell-out crowd today will make all the hard work and sacrifice worthwhile.

“I’m not studying at the moment and my life is squash, squash, squash — I’m just trying to give it everything I’ve got,” said Franklin, whose biggest competition to date was the NatWest Island Games, held in Bermuda last summer, when he claimed a bronze medal in the singles.

“The difference between playing leisurely and trying to make it as a professional is huge. You have to train and play some days when you don’t want to or when your body is not feeling 100 per cent.”

Franklin hopes the Glasgow Games will be his first of many and aspires to ape Nick Kyme, his Bermuda team-mate, by making multiple appearances at this level.

“Nick’s been a great training partner and he’s a great guy to talk to,” said Franklin, who will have a short break after the Games before competing at the Senior Caribbean Championships in Barbados next month.

“He’s been to the Commonwealth Games so many times. I’ve asked him more about things behind the scenes like the Athletes’ Village and what to expect in terms of the atmosphere. All his answers have been pretty positive.”