World No. 1 and seven-time world champion Nicol David (right) is still going strong despite turning 31 this year.
PETALING JAYA: The national womenās squash team will leave for Canada on Thursday in good spirits, knowing that it is probably their best chance to win the Womenās World Team Championship for the first time.
Malaysia have finished third in the last four editions of the biennial world teams ā from 2006-2012, which is also their best achievement to date.
With world No. 1 and seven-time world champion Nicol David still going strong, despite turning 31 this year, and national No. 2 Low Wee Wern and No. 3 Delia Arnold showing good form of late, there is a good chance that the team could go beyond the semi-finals for the first time when the competition starts from Dec 1-6 at the Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The fourth member of the team is Zulhijjah Azan.
āNicol is always reliable as our No. 1 ... sheās still the world No. 1 ... and Delia has been playing well lately. So, we definitely have the most complete team ever.
āAs for myself, Iāve not played since winning the National Championships earlier this month but I feel really good about my game.
āIāve played my best squash since the second half of the year and Iām really looking forward to the team event. Itās just different from playing on the Womenās Squash Association (WSA) Tour.
āWe won the team event at the Asian Games and that was huge for the team. I guess in team events we can really go the extra mile ... knowing the country is behind us.
āOur biggest challenge will be defending champions Egypt and England.
āAs the No. 2 player, Iāll be up against Englandās Alison (Waters) and Egyptās Nour (El Sherbini).
āI have not beaten either player, but our matches have always been close five-setters. So, Iām definitely looking forward to that challenge, although our first target is to get out of the group stage in good nick.ā
Malaysia are seeded third and are in Group C with sixth seeds US, hosts Canada, Mexico and Guatemala.
Nicol and Co should get out of the group stage with ease. But they will need a stroke of good luck in the quarter-final draw, which will be done after the group matches, in order to avoid favourites Egypt in the semi-finals.
by Kng Zheng Guan - The Star
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