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Nicol Advances Easily To Quarterfinals In Women's World Championship



GEORGE TOWN, March 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's world number one Datuk Nicol David did not face any problem advancing to the quarterfinals after easily winning over Heba El Torky of Egypt at the 29th Penang-CIMB Women's World Championship. In today's second round match, Nicol only took 24 minutes to cast aside her opponent, in straight sets 11-6, 11-3 and 11-4 at the Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (sPICE) here.

 "Today's match was a good performance for me. Heba, maybe it was her second time in the world championship, I think she started a little bit nervous but still give me a strong match. "Playing in front of home fans has always made me better and keeps me going until the end. For tomorrow, I'll play the way I played today or even better, and need to put more focus because it would be a tough match," Nicol told reporters.

The 31-year-old Penang lass will meet Camille Serme of France in the quarterfinals tomorrow. Serme was given a tough fight in the first set before finishing off her opponent, Nicolette Fernandes of Guyana 14-12, 11-5 and 11-3. "I felt a little bit nervous in the first match, Nicolette, she is a good player and played well today. I made some mistakes and I just need to be more relaxed," she said. Meanwhile, Malaysia's second top women's squash player, Low Wee Wern continued to give laudable performance as she also advanced to the quarterfinals after trouncing Canadian Samantha Cornett in another match. Wee Wern defeated her opponent 11-8, 11-3 and 11-9 in 42 minutes.

She will meet world number two player Laura Massaro of England, who defeated compatriot, Jenny Duncalf in straight sets 11-9, 11-6 and 11-4. "The first game was quite tough and in the second, I got the confidence and in the third set, she (Samantha) didn't make any mistake...I strived to win. "I've meet Laura a couple of times and I've beaten her once out of five or six times. I'm just looking forward to the match tomorrow," said Wee Wern. -- BERNAMA

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