Nicol Expects Stiff Competition In Quest For Ninth Kuala Lumpur Open Title

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- National squash queen and women's world number one Datuk Nicol David expects stiff competition in her quest to win her ninth CIMB Nicol David Kuala Lumpur Open squash title, when the tournament starts, Tuesday.

The multiple world champion said with the presence of the top 15 players in the world and a number talented new faces, it would not be an easy task to defend the title.

"The tournament this time around is different due to the presence of so many top class players. It is certainly going to be very competitive," she told reporters at a function to announce CIMB's sponsorship pledge, here, Monday.

Apart from Nicol, the championship to be held at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil and Berjaya Times Square, would also feature world number two and Nicol's arch rival Raneem El Weleily from Egypt.

Also on the list are world number three Laura Massaro, Jenny Duncalf from England and Omneya Abdel Kawy from Egypt whom Nicol may face as early as the second round.

Since the tournament was inaugurated in 1999, Nicol has only failed to win the title twice, after losing to Vanessa Atkinson from Holland in 2006 and Natalie Grainger from the United States, in 2009.

-- BERNAMA

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