Nicol in Hall of Fame

ROTTERDAM: Nicol David will receive the ultimate recognition when she is inducted into the World Squash Federation (WSF) Hall of Fame here tomorrow.

The 28-year-old from Penang, who is going for a record sixth crown at the World Open this week, will be inducted by Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar (pic), the WSF Patron and IOC member who is himself a former national squash champion.

Nicol rules supreme in the women’s game and has already achieved legendary status. After becoming the first ever double winner of the biennial world junior title in 2001, she went on to begin an unbroken reign at the top of the world rankings from August, 2006. She is now the second longest-standing world number one of all-time behind Australia’s Susan Devoy, who reigned for 105 months.

Nicol already has 55 Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) titles and equalled the five world titles won by her mentor Sarah Fitz-Gerald.

She has almost single-handedly put Malaysia on the world squash map through her achievements and, earlier this year, won a record eighth national sportswoman of the year award.

Legendary status: Nicol David is now the second longest-standing world No. 1 of all time behind Australia’s Susan Devoy.

Nicol captured the first of her three Asian Games gold medals in 1998, aged just 15, and, in April this year, claimed her eighth successive Asian Championship in Penang.

“It’s great to be recognised in this way while I am still a player and have my achievements compared with the best players the game has seen,” said Nicol. “It’s truly fantastic and I am really honoured.

“But this does not mean I am ready to ride off into the sunset. I am far from finished even though I have been playing the professional circuit for over 10 years.”

Nicol intends to prove just that by bagging her sixth world crown on Sunday.

Source: Thestar