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KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Jan (Bernama) -- Juara dunia tujuh kali, Datuk Nicol David sudah berada di landasan yang betul untuk mempertahankan kejuaraan skuasy Siri Akhir Dunia 2013 apabila layak ke separuh akhir. Pada pertandingan di The Queens Club, London, Jumaat, Nicol, 29, hanya mengambil masa 19 minit untuk menempa tiket separuh akhir apabila mengatasi pemain Belanda, Natalie Grinham 11-4 dan 11-8 dalam perlawanan terakhir Kumpulan A. Nicol muncul juara edisi sulung kejohanan itu tahun lepas dengan mengalahkan pemain Ireland Madeline Perry 11-9, 11-9, 11-9. Kejohanan, yang menjadi kemuncak penghujung musim skuasy dunia itu, menampilkan lapan pemain terbaik wanita dan lelaki dunia. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's world number one Datuk Nicol Ann David was on track for her eighth Hong Kong Open title. In Saturday's semi-finals, Nicol defeated Natalie Grinham of the Netherlands in straight set 11-8, 11-5 and 11-6. The match was shifted to the glass court mounted at the harbourside - the Piazza of Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, Hong Kong. "It took me a little time to adjust to the court as its a new one, So, I was maybe a bit late on the ball, my timing was not at its best. "Natalie was really sharp today. She was constantly on the ball, picking up everything, back and forth as usual. She is a tough competitor, she just doesn't stop," said Nicol as quoted in a squash website, www.squashsite.co.uk. In her quest to retain the title for the eighth time, Nicol will be meeting Camille Serme of France for the first time in a final match. Camille booked her berth in the final after defeating Egypt's Omn...

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- National squash queen and world number one Datuk Nicol David tasted her maiden US Open Squash Championship victory when she defeated Egypt's Raneem El Weleily, Friday. The 29-year-old top seed edged Raneem in a four-set match to win 14-12, 8-11, 11-7 and 11-7 in 45 minutes and avenge her defeat to the Egyptian last month at the Malaysian Open final. Nicol's victory at her first-ever US Open final was also a new WSA record as she surpassed Sarah Fitz-Gerald's record of 62 titles with her 63rd. According to the tournament's official website, www.usopensquash.com, the match against Raneem was Nicol's 80th appearance in the Women Squash Association (WSA) competition finals, during her illustrious career. The match was held at a glass court mounted at Drexel University's Daskalakis Athletic Centre in Philadelphia, the United States. "I can't believe it. I keep thinking I should still be out there running after Raneem...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's squash queen Datuk Nicol David remained the Women's International Squash Players Association (Wispa)'s world number one player for the 62nd successive month since taking over the spot in August 2007. Nicol who won her maiden Australian Open title on Aug 16, continued to strengthen her current position as world number one. The Wispa official website, www.wispa.net stated that Nicol was leading with 300 points after competing in three World Series competitions -- Caymans Island Open, CIMB Malaysian Open and Australian Open. The 28-year-old Penang lass is not only topped the Wispa World Rankings leader board, but also the leader board in the Wispa World Series standings. Meanwhile, her arch-rival, Jenny Duncalf from England took second spot with 195 points, and Rachael Grinham of Australia is third with 105 points. Two other Malaysian top women players - Low Wee Wern and Delia Arnold - maintained their ...

WEE WERN (depan) mempamerkan kehebatan untuk muncul juara pada Kejohanan Skuasy Remaja Terbuka Britain kelmarin. PEMAIN remaja negara, Low Wee Wern akhirnya berjaya merangkul gelaran pertamanya selepas tiga percubaan pada Kejohanan Skuasy Remaja Terbuka Britain kelmarin. Pada perlawanan akhir kategori perempuan bawah 19 tahun di Abbeydale, Sheffield itu, Wee Wern, 18, menewaskan pemain India dan juara bawah 17 tahun tahun lepas, Dipika Pallikal 3-1. "Saya teruja dan lega kerana akhirnya berjaya merangkul gelaran juara," kata pemain dari Pulau Pinang itu. Pada perlawanan akhir itu, Wee Wern menguasai dua set pertama dengan keputusan 11-2 dan 11-8 sebelum Dipika bangkit pada set ketiga untuk memang 11-8. Bagaimanapun, Wee Wern, yang menduduki ranking ke-42 dunia kembali menguasai set penentuan seterusnya menang 11-8. Perlawanan tersebut mengambil masa selama 42 minit. Wee Wern mara ke perlawanan akhir selepas menundukkan pemain Kanada, Laura Gemmell, 9-11, 12-10, 13-15...

Oleh ABDUL HAFIZ AHMAD Nicol (kanan) ketika menyertai latihan kecergasan Gatorade Sweat Test di Pusat Skuasy, Bukit Jalil semalam. Nicol kini berada di Malaysia untuk berehat panjang sebelum menghadapi musim baru tahun depan. KUALA LUMPUR - Ratu skuasy negara, Datuk Nicol David menjangkakan pemain England seperti Jenny Duncalf, Alison Waters dan Laura Lengthorn-Massaro serta jaguh Mesir yang bergelar juara Kejohanan Berpasukan Dunia, baru-baru ini mampu menggugat kedudukan nombor satu miliknya sepanjang tahun depan. Katanya, kemampuan pencabar di tangga kelima, keenam dan kelapan ranking Persatuan Pemain Skuasy Wanita Antarabangsa (WISPA) itu selain Omneya Abdel Kawy dan Raneem El Weleily serta Engy Kheirallah tetap dialu-alukannya demi menjanjikan persaingan yang lebih hebat dan menarik. Ditemui selepas menjalani 'Ujian Keringat Menghidrat Gatorade' bersama pemain lain di Pusat Skuasy Nasional, Bukit Jalil, semalam, tegasnya, "saya tidak gemarkan keselesaan (selaku...

By AFTAR SINGH KUALA LUMPUR: World number one Nicol David will lend a helping hand to Low Wee Wern’s bid to win the prestigious British Junior Open title. Wee Wern, the Asian junior champion, is the top seed of the girls’ Under-19 competition of the Open, which will be held in Sheffield from Jan 2-6. The 18-year-old has not won any of the Open’s age-group titles. Her best achievement was a runner-up finish to Camille Serme of France in the Under-19 competition last year. In contrast, Nicol is the only Malaysian to have won five age-group titles and her last was claiming the girls’ Under-19 crown in 1999. The 25-year-old Nicol said that expectations were high on fellow Penangite Wee Wern to win the title this time, now that she is the top seed. “Wee Wern has improved a lot and I am sure she will challenge strongly to end her title drought in the British Junior Open. I will be more than happy to help her with practice matches in Penang to fine tune her shots and boost ...

SELEPAS berjaya dalam misinya untuk merampas kembali Terbuka British dan Terbuka Dunia pada 2008 ini, ketibaan cuti Krismas hadir tepat pada waktunya buat pemain skuasy wanita nombor satu dunia, Nicol David dengan ia memberikannya peluang untuk ‘mengecas baterinya’ sebelum kembali melancarkan serangan ke atas jelajah profesional pada 2009 ini. Nicol yang sudah pulang ke tanah air akan kembali ke negeri kelahirannya, Pulau Pinang bagi Hari Natal ini, melepaskan kerinduan terhadap ibu bapanya sambil berkongsi kisah kejayaannya merangkul rekod 10 gelaran berturut-turut musim ini. “Saya akan pulang bercuti di Pulau Pinang selama seminggu, sambil menikmati hidangan ayam belanda panggang. “Saya tidak mengimpikan tahun yang lebih baik daripada ini, ia adalah keputusan terbaik yang pernah saya kecapi. Terbuka British, Terbuka Dunia, saya tidak memikirkannya ketika memasuki tahun ini. “Memasuki tahun ini, saya tidak memikirkan untuk memenangi kesemua kejo...

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Emerging players from England and Egypt and veterans like the Grinham sisters of Australia and Natalie Grainger (USA) will most likely pose the biggest threat in national squash queen Datuk Nicol David's quest to remain as the world's Number One for the third consecutive year next year. "I'm sure the English girls and Egyptians are hungry to dislodge me from the top," she told reporters when met at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here Wednesday. She noted that Allison Waters, Jenny Duncalf and Laura Lenghthorn-Massaro of England and Egyptians Engy Kheirallah and Omneya Abdel Kawy were rising fast judging by their recent performances. Engy Kheirallah, ranked 23 in the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) rankings, helped Egypt to win the Women's World Team Championship in Cairo last November by beating Waters (ranked 5) in the last game while Omneya, just entering the age of 23 next year, wi...

SHARON Wee rose to the occasion to lead Malaysia to a 3-0 win over the Netherlands which clinched top spot in Group D of the Women's World Team Championship in Cairo yesterday. Playing at second-string, World No 24 Sharon ended the spirited fight back of Annelize Naude to register an 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7 win in 54 minutes for Malaysia's first point. Annelize, ranked 22nd, twice came back from a game down but Sharon kept plugging away and came out tops to set Malaysia on their way to a crucial win. Sharon's win left Delia Arnold, who came on next at third-string against Orla Noom, with the chance to put the tie to bed. Apart from the second game where Orla put up stiff resistance, Delia was never in serious trouble to win 11-7, 15-13, 11-4 in 40 minutes. World No 1 Nicol David's first-string match against former world champion Vanessa Atkinson was then rendered academic. However, with pride at stake, Nicol cruised past Vanessa 11-6, 12-10, ...

Oleh YASMIN RAMAN RATU skuasy negara, Datuk Nicol Ann David yakin rakan sepasukannya mampu memikul tanggungjawab besar apabila tampil pada Kejohanan Berpasukan Wanita Dunia yang akan membuka tirainya di Kaherah Ahad ini. Selain Nicol yang juga pemain No. 1 dunia, cabaran negara pada kejohanan tersebut akan turut digalas Sharon Wee (24), Delia Arnold (34) dan Low Wee Wern (46). Selepas sekadar menduduki tempat ketiga pada kejohanan yang sama di Kanada dua tahun lalu, Nicol berazam membantu skuad negara mencapai keputusan yang lebih positif kali ini. "Selepas menang kali ke-10 kejuaraan Jelajah Wispa, saya berazam melakukan yang terbaik untuk pasukan Malaysia dalam kejohanan ini," katanya. "Dua tahun lalu, kami hanya meraih tempat ketiga. Jadi sudah tentu tahun ini saya dan rakan sepasukan yang lain mahu berusaha memperbaiki kedudukan itu. "Apa yang saya lihat, skuad negara kali ini dilihat lebih mantap dan saya yakin kami dapat bekerjasama dengan baik demi m...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- World number 1 Datuk Nicol David is banking on her team-mates to deliver at the 16th Women's World Team Championship in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday. "This time, the team line-up has quality players and enjoy a strong sense of rapport among themselves, which is paramount to deliver the desired results," she said. Nicol, who completed her 10th Wispa Tour titles this year after clinching the Hong Kong Open title recently, said that besides team captain Sharon Wee who is ranked 24th, Delia Arnold (ranked 34th) and Low Wee Wern (ranked 46th) have performed well in the World Open and British Open, two prestigious titles in squash, this year. For the record, the 25-year-old Penangite has won the World Open and British Open titles thrice in 2005, 2006 and this year. "In the team event championship, we will rely on each other for support," she said after a flag handing-over ceremony at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here Thursd...

By Hilary Sebastian KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Nov (Bernama) -- The Malaysian team comprising two top senior and two top junior national players is the right balance to squash the competition in the semi-final stage at the 16th Women's Team Championship in Cairo, beginning Sunday. National No 2 player Sharon Wee, who is the most senior among the four players, expressed confidence over the team which consists of world number one player Datuk Nicol David, Delia Arnold (ranked 34th) and Low Wee Wern (ranked 46th). She said it was capable of doing better than its third placing win at the 2006 Championship in Edmonton, Canada. At the 2006 Women's Championship, the Malaysian team was the third seed beating the Netherlands 2-1 in the play-off match, in which Sharon lost to Annelize Naude 3-1 in the first match, but Nicol leveled the scoreline after beating Vanessa Atkinson 3-0, and then Tricia Chuah beat Orla Noon 3-0 to seal the Malaysian team's third place win. England emerged champi...

World No 1s Nicol David (right) and Amr Shabana pose with their trophies after winning the Hong Kong Open women’s and men’s titles respectively. JUST like former Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, squash queen Nicol David has her own perfect 10 to savour after completing a remarkable season by winning the Hong Kong Open title yesterday. Nicol needed to pull out all stops in what was her in sternest challenge yet in the tournament before subduing Australia's Rachael Grinham 14-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8 in the 53-minute final. The win allowed the Malaysian World No 1 to end her 2008 Wispa Tour season undefeated in all 10 tournaments she played while extending her unbeaten run since her last defeat at the 2007 World Open to 53 matches. But Nicol, who only dropped one game before the final, was far from assured of completing a hat-trick of Hong Kong Open titles as a determined Rachael kept the crowd gathered at the glass court at Victoria Harbour on tenterhooks. The Austral...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- World number one Datuk Nicol David completed a hat-trick of Hong Kong Squash Open titles after outlasting Racheal Grinham of Australia in four thrilling games at the Hong Kong Culture Centre Piazza, Sunday. The 25-year-old Penang lass needed 53 minutes to subdue the Aussie third seed who had managed to level the score at one game each, before wrapping up the next two games for a 14-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8 win and clinch her third consecutive Hong Kong Open. The win saw Nicol, the top seed, stretch her unbeaten run to 53 matches in the WISPA Tour while the win ensured her 10th title of the year on the Wispa Tour. The other titles are Marsh Apawamis Open, CIMB KL Open, Dunlop British Open (Liverpool), Seoul Women's Squash Open, CIMB Malaysian Open, CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters, Forexx Dutch Open, Hi-Tec Open and Qatar Classic. Meanwhile, in the men's singles, Amr Shabana of Egypt beat second seeded Gregory Gaultier of France 10-7,13...

Ong Beng Hee will face England’s James Willstrop today. NICOL David was off to a comfortable start in search of a third consecutive Hong Kong Open title in the first round yesterday. The World No 1 needed only 22 minutes to notch an 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 win over New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes. Nicol, who is looking for her 10th Wispa Tour title of the year, has now gone unbeaten for 49 matches and will reach the half-century mark with a win over Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu in the second round today. Rebecca is hoping for a better outcome in her fifth meeting of 2008 with Nicol after overcoming stiff resistance from Denmark's Line Hansen to win 11-9, 11-8, 11-8. "It's Nicol, the world champion, again tomorrow (today). I've played her a few times already this year and not even taken a game so I'm hoping that with home court and the Hong Kong crowd I'll be able to take at least a game this time," said Rebecca on www.squashsite.co.uk website....

KUALA LUMPUR: World number one Nicol David will be gunning to stretch her record of professional title in a season to 10 at the Hong Kong Open, which begins today at the Hong Kong Squash Centre. The Penangite has been in smashing form this year and she has gone unbeaten for 53 matches in the Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) circuit. It is already her best achievement since turning professional in 2000. Last year, Nicol won eight titles in 11 Wispa tournaments but this season, she has won nine consecutive titles — Apawamis, KL Open, British Open, Seoul Open, Malaysia Open, Singapore Masters, Dutch Open, World Open and Qatar Classic. Nicol will begin her defence of the Hong Kong Open title against Jaclyn Hawkes of New Zealand. In her half of the draw are 13th seed Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong, seventh seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt and fourth seed Natalie Grainger of the United States. Besides Nicol, Malaysia also have national number two and world number 24 Sh...