CIMB give WSF’s Olympic bid a huge push

<b>Happy partnership:</b> Datuk Sri Nazir Razak, Group Chief Executive of CIMB Group with squash star Nicol David during the press conference on the CIMB KL Open Monday.

Happy partnership: Datuk Sri Nazir Razak, Group Chief Executive of CIMB Group with squash star Nicol David during the press conference on the CIMB KL Open Monday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The World Squash Federation (WSF) received a massive boost yesterday when CIMB announced their support for squash to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games.

CIMB Group’s Group Chief Executive Datuk Sri Nazir Razak said that CIMB will be WSF’s Olympic Bid Partner and will support their bid presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in St Petersburg, Russia on May 29.

The announcement was made in conjunction with CIMB’s eighth consecutive title sponsorship of the CIMB KL Open Squash Championship which will be held from today to March 31.

CIMB’s sponsorship will support the cost of making the presentation, including expenses for bid films, management and the bid group’s attendance at the board meeting.

“CIMB have long been a supporter of squash, so we wouldn’t want to miss the chance for the sport to win a place in the Olympics,” said Nazir, at the signing ceremony here yesterday.

“I believe squash deserves to be in the Olympics and if squash wins the bid, Datuk Nicol David has told us that she will be playing in the Olympics, so we will try to help WSF win the bid.”

World No. 1 and seven-time world champion Nicol said she’s happy and proud that a Malaysian based company has backed the bid.

Nicol will be gunning for her ninth consecutive KL Open title.

“I’m glad that CIMB see the importance of squash getting a spot in the Olympics and have taken a huge step to support WSF,” said Nicol.

“Our bid is gathering more support and I’m very happy with the backing that we have been getting. We are entering the final phase of the bidding process and I hope everything goes well.

And on her KL Open campaign Nicol said: “I’m definitely looking forward to a good outing and I hope to win my ninth KL Open title.”

THE STAR

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