After a semi-final defeat on home soil, world No.1 Nicol David will look to stamp her class at the Hong Kong Open this week.
PETALING JAYA: Let’s face it, Nicol David is not going to win every single tournament she competes in.
That was evident from the recently concluded Malaysian Open as the world No.1, fresh from winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month, was unable to lift her game and lost to eventual winner Raneem El Weleily of Egypt in the semi-finals.
It certainly comes as a shock as Malaysians are not used to watching Nicol lose in her own backyard. But last Friday’s defeat is Nicol’s fourth on home soil since the 2012 Malaysian Open final – also to Raneem.
It will be unfair to say that the Penangite, who turns 31 tomorrow, has suffered a dropped in her performance as she has always played with a very high intensity.
With Nicol having set such high standards in the game, the catch-up pack, featuring a host of young Egyptians are closing in on her.
A tight Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Tour schedule is not helping Nicol either as she is competing in the Hong Kong Open which started yesterday, the Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4), the US Open (Oct 9-18) and the Macau Open (Oct 20-26).
Nicol however offered no excuses for her defeat at the Malaysian Open.
“A defeat is a defeat and there is nothing much I can do about that except to train harder and come back stronger,” said the seven-time world champion.
“It’s definitely disappointing to lose in the Malaysian Open but it’s fairplay to Raneem. She took her chances well. It’s obviously a very long season ahead and the Malaysian Open is just the start. For me it’s all about choosing and peaking at the right tournament.
Nicol have won the Hong Kong Open nine consecutine times and will meet a qualifier in the first round tomorrow.
National No. 2 Low Wee Wern will take on local player Tong Tsz Wing in the first round. A win will pit the 24-year-old against Malaysian Open runner-up Nour El Tayeb of Egypt.
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