LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED: Nicol gets CIMB's help for 2020 inclusion
CIMB group chief executive Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and Nicol David with the ‘Back The Bid 2020’ campaign poster. Bernama pic
Though Nicol has two World Games gold medals in her collection, they hardly compare to what an Olympic medal would mean to the World No 1.
The World Games is held every four years in the year after the Olympics for sports not part of the formal Olympic programme.
Nicol, however, is not yet ready to consign the World Games to history, not until September when the International Olympic Committee meets in Buenos Aires to decide which sport, squash among them, fills a vacancy on the 2020 Games roster.
Even with her busy playing and campaigning schedule, Nicol believes it is important that she plays at the World Games in Cali, Colombia on Aug 2-4 to demonstrate the importance of squash's Olympic bid.
"I'm looking forward to going to Colombia to be a part of the Games," said Nicol at the CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open press conference yesterday.
"It will be interesting because I have time off during that time and it would be good preparation for the next few tournaments when the season starts again.
"Squash is part of every major Games and is missing out on the Olympics only. I think the World Games is very crucial and needs to be supported by all the players."
Nicol would complete a hat-trick of World Games gold medals with a win in Cali, though it could also be her last if squash is successful in its Olympic bid.
"I'll be 37 in 2020. I will have to keep my form and pace myself at the tail end of my career," said Nicol, who will present squash's bid to the IOC executive board in St Petersburg, Russia on May 29-31 along with Egypt's two-time men's world champion Ramy Ashour.
Nicol will have strong backing with CIMB throwing its support behind the World Squash Federation's 'Back The Bid 2020' campaign.
While promising its backing, financial or otherwise, CIMB group chief executive Datuk Seri Nazir Razak said squash deserves a spot on the Olympic programme.
"It is important that squash achieves it because squash deserves it. It does not make sense that squash is not in the Olympics when it is in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
"When I watched the Olympics in London last year, I sent an SMS to Nicol (David) saying you really ought to be at these Games. I won't tell you what she replied but it was emotional," said Nazir at the CIMB Kuala Lumpur press conference yesterday.
When asked what measure of support he had in mind for the sport's Olympic bid, Nazir said: "To give some financial support to the bid process.
"This is an important undertaking but there is no talk of a specific amount. We don't know how much is needed.
"We will discuss with the squash association if further support is needed and we'd be happy to consider it."
Meanwhile, Nicol goes in search of a ninth KL Open title at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil tomorrow when she plays a qualifier in the first round.
It will be the first time Nicol is in action in front of a home audience this year and her first tournament since a defeat to Egypt's Raneem El Weleily at the Cleveland Classic final in early February.
Read more: Olympics the priority - Other - New Straits Times
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