8th Wonders of the World

 

 

 

Pic Caption : Dato' Nicol David arriving at Penang International Airport on 24 December 2014 from Amsterdam via KL to Penang.

Last Sunday's enigmatic performance saw Malaysia's Squash Queen, Dato' Nicol David claim the 30th edition of the Women's World Squash Championships, her unprecedented 8th WSA Women's World Championship title. This 30th edition is the biggest Women's World Squash Championships with a total prize purse of US$150,000. Dato' Nicol's enormous feat came after a gruelling 66 minute 5/11. 11/8, 7/11, 14/12, 11/5 win against world number 3 Raneem Welily at the Wadi Degla Club in Cairo.

Despite enduring another 5 game battle the previous day against Omneya Abdel Kawy, the second Egyptian in the semifinals, Nicol rallied on from a 2-1 deficit and to save the match being 10-6 down in the fourth. Saving four match ball to level the match score at 2-2 is a testament to Nicol's gritty determination for success. The deciding game proved a little too much for Raneem as Nicol cruised to a clear 11-5 score line.

Nicol's 8th Women's World Squash Championships title elevates her legendary status further in the history books as Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald holds five titles to her name. New Zealand legend Susan Devoy comes in third with four titles.

It was almost a decade ago in 2005 when Nicol first lay claim to this prestigious title in Hong Kong. Nicol defended her world crown the following year in Belfast, Nothern Ireland (2006). It was only in year 2008 in Manchester that Nicol managed to attain her third world title. Her dominance continued for the next four years with consecutive wins in Amsterdam (2009), Sharm el-Sheikh (2010), Rotterdam (2011) and Cayman Islands (2012).

Year 2014 will prove to be one of the best years yet for Dato' Nicol as she ends the year with an array of titles including avenging her 2013 defeat to Laura Massaro in the British Open, laying claim to the 2014 British Open crown. The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth gold medal, Incheon Asian Games gold medal both team and individual an a second placing in the Women's World Team Championships which was held in Vancouver, Canada early this month. While she was battleing her title in Cairo, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has awarded her as the Female Olympian of the year.