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Nicol tak janji juara

Kuala Lumpur: Ratu skuasy negara Datuk Nicol David tidak berani menjanjikan gelaran kesembilan Skuasy Terbuka Kuala Lumpur akan memulakan aksi kelayakan esok, manakala Low Wee Wern menaruh harapan untuk membuang badi gagal melepasi pusingan pertama sepanjang beraksi dalam kejohanan yang memasuki edisi ke-15.
Nicol menganggap kehadiran 16 daripada 20 pemain ranking teratas dunia menambah saingan getir untuknya.

“Saya anggap kejohanan ini sebagai kejohanan besar pertama tahun ini. Pada awal tahun kurang kejohanan utama dan saya masih segar. Saya harap dapat menampilkan aksi bertenaga,” katanya pada sidang media menjelang kejohanan yang akan berlangsung di Pusat Skuasy Negara, Bukit Jalil pada peringkat kelayakan dan kedua, sebelum berpindah ke gelanggang kaca di Berjaya Times Square di suku akhir.

Kejohanan terakhir disertai Nicol tahun ini, Terbuka Cleveland pada Februari lalu yang menyaksikannya tewas di tangan Raneem El Weleily dari Mesir di final.

Wee Wern pula yang mendapat beberapa penajaan baru tahun ini turut mempunyai misi peribadi kali ini.

“Sepanjang menyerta Terbuka Kuala Lumpur, saya tidak pernah melepasi peringkat pertama dan berdasarkan undian, saya sasarkan sekurang-kurangnya mara ke suku akhir,” katanya yang buat kali pertama beraksi di kejohanan profesional pada ranking terbaik, iaitu keenam dunia.
Wee Wern yang mendapat tajaan Puma dan terbaru, AirAsia diletakkan selaku pilihan keenam, membuka cabaran menentang pemain Australia, Donna Urquhart di pusingan pertama, Rabu ini sebelum Madeline Perry dari Ireland bakal menjadi lawan di pusingan kedua.

Jika mara, dia akan ke suku akhir menentang sama ada pilihan ke-16, Rachael Grinham (Australia) atau pilihan ketiga, Laura Massaro (England) sebelum Nicol berkemungkinan menantinya di separuh akhir.
Nicol pula memulakan cabaran menentang pemain kelayakan di pusingan pertama dengan pemain Mesir, Omneya Abdel Kawy dijangka menjadi lawan di pusingan kedua sebelum pemain India, Dipika Pallikal, di suku akhir.

Nicol dijangka meneruskan sengketa dengan pemain nombor dua dunia, Raneem El Weleily (Mesir) di final.



Oleh Mohd Hilmie Hussin

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