Nicol, a true legend who keeps on going

Malaysia's world No.1 squash player Nicol David flashes an electric smile as she holds aloft the Women's World Championship trophy she won in Cairo on Saturday. This was her eighth career world title. - Squashsite

PETALING JAYA: Turning 31 this year has not been such a bad thing for Malaysian squash queen Nicol David after all.

The world No.1 managed to defy the odds to complete a sensational comeback to win the Women’s World Championship, beating home favourite Raneem El Welily in the final at the Wadi Degla Squash Club in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday.

Nicol showed supreme mental strength to save four match points in the fourth set as she went on to beat world No.3 Raneem 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5 in 66 minutes.

It was a record eighth world title for the Penangite and her 78th Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Tour title.

With the World Championship success, Nicol is now set to equal the all-time 105-month record of New Zealand’s Susan Devoy as the world No.1. The Malaysian is on a 104-month reign at the top of the squash world.

There were speculations that she was on the decline when she faltered in the semi-finals of the delayed 2013 World Championships, which was held in front of her Penang home crowd early this year.

But Nicol proved the critics wrong. She sank to her knees and shed tears of joy after the winning point on Saturday and dedicated the win to her team and her parents – and effectively sealing her legend status in the women’s game.

“Raneem was playing so well. I had to find something and not let go. I just kept fighting,” said Nicol.
“And I really want to share this win with my team. Liz (Irving) my coach whom I’ve been working with for the past 12 years, my psychologist Frank (Cabooter), the National Sports Council (NSC) and everyone else who has supported my whole career.

“It’s also my parents’ wedding anniversary today (Saturday), so this is a special moment as well.
“I also want to add that Raneem has been a real contender, a role model to every kid in Egypt as well and I have to look out for her in the future,” added Nicol, who has so far been unbeaten in all her eight world meet final appearances.

All in, it has been a successful but hectic year for Nicol. She also won golds medal at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games and led Malaysia to their first-ever second-place finish at the Women’s World Team Championship.

She will now take a break for Christmas and will return to defend her title at the Tournament of Champions in New York, from Jan 16-23.


The Star